Remote Work TNT – Wifi Worker Beeshttps://wifiworkerbees.com
All the buzz on remote work and location independent lifestyles!Tue, 08 May 2018 20:22:28 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9The Importance of Unplugginghttps://wifiworkerbees.com/the-importance-of-unplugging/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/the-importance-of-unplugging/#respondTue, 08 May 2018 13:00:48 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1561Photo by Mabel Amber at Pexels. Creative Commons License. Remote work means working the hours that make the most sense for the individual. Perhaps because it's so freeform, it's that much harder to know when to take a break, and actually take it on schedule. No one else is there to say "start [...]

Remote work means working the hours that make the most sense for the individual. Perhaps because it’s so freeform, it’s that much harder to know when to take a break, and actually take it on schedule. No one else is there to say “start now,” “stop in three hours for a break,” and “stop altogether after eight hours.” And what if you’re having a really great productive day, the Wi-Fi is behaving, and you’re experiencing something like runner’s high? Why not just crank away, possibly into the wee hours?

Many freelance and remote workers feel guilty for finding a stopping place or calling it a day. But breaks are crucial for bringing one’s best to work for each shift. Or think of it this way: your devices have limited battery life before demanding a recharge. People have a similar limitation, but unlike a phone, they try to trick themselves into thinking otherwise.

Here are five reasons to take breaks, and realize when to call it a day for today:

Circadian rhythms: You will sleep better if you get outside for 20 minutes a few times a day. Life in artificial light isn’t healthy, and can lead to depression and other health problems.

Conscious eating: Meals eaten in front of your computer or television is mindless eating and leads to overeating. Enjoy your food and eat it slowly. Drink plenty of water. It makes you more aware of what you’re eating, and how much.

Life management: If you need to go to a bank, get dry cleaning, or any other tasks that involve other people who have 9-5 schedules, a daytime break is perfect for taking care of those.

Backburner breakthroughs: Sometimes you’re just stuck. Getting away from a computer is really important for these moments. Changing your focus by reading a printed book or magazine, taking a shower, meditating, or doing a household chore engages the back of your mind to work on the problem. Doing this for about 15 minutes can lead to a sudden breakthrough.

Exercise: The US government recommends just 30 mins. each day. But for the endorphins, better mental health, the alertness, and better circulation, 30 minutes every 2-3 hours is a better plan. Meet new people through a shared activity. Help a charity with a walkathon, jump rope, or other sport.

BONUSES: You are more than just a worker, but if all you do is work, it’s really easy to forget that. But you are more than just a worker.You’re a son or daughter. You’re a child or pet parent; maybe you are both. You’re a caregiver. You’re a community member. You’re a member of a congregation. You’re a mentor (officially or unofficially) for younger people. All these things remind you of your life outside work, and they deserve some time of each day too.

Some folks liken different areas of your life to a bank: if you don’t make regular deposits in each account, there’s nothing there when you might need help, or a reminder of your humanity. Some people whose whole life is their work are devastated when workload slows down or disappears; the big reason is because they haven’t invested time and effort in other areas of their life with the same care or intensity that they had brought to work. Don’t learn this the hard way. Also, oftentimes it’s our fun time that sparks new relationships and potential new work contacts.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/the-importance-of-unplugging/feed/0Ten Don’ts for Online Interviewshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/online-interviews/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/online-interviews/#respondWed, 25 Apr 2018 09:00:32 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1176Being able to interview from your office at home, a coworking spot, or a neighborhood café is definitely convenient. In some ways, it's less nerve wracking than the in-person interview: no worries about traffic, bad directions, and parking. You're going to a place you are comfortable and familiar with. Yet online interviews present a whole new [...]

Being able to interview from your office at home, a coworking spot, or a neighborhood café is definitely convenient. In some ways, it’s less nerve wracking than the in-person interview: no worries about traffic, bad directions, and parking. You’re going to a place you are comfortable and familiar with.

Yet online interviews present a whole new set of challenges. A candidate can easily disqualify themselves by being too casual and comfortable, not planning ahead for tech malfunctions, or failing to prepare for how he/she will present their work to an employer from a remote setting.

Here are ten things you want to avoid:

Don’t dress too sloppily or casually. Dress like you take the meeting seriously. Don’t pull wrinkled clothes out of the pile and hope for the best. Put your best, neatest image forward. If the interview is purely audio, your voice will get all the focus. Drink tea before your interview, pour yourself a glass of water to have on hand during the interview. Singers and stage actors often warm their voices up with tongue twisters and vocal exercises before their big moment. It’s not a bad idea for everyday people when they want to present at their best.

Don’t be late. You want to be seated in front of your computer 15 minutes before “go time:” dressed, fed, and ready with that confident smile. You’ll want your materials, audio tech tools, and a glass of water within arms reach. You want functioning connectivity. If all these things, or you, aren’t in place, you’re going to be frenzied and likely, late. If you’re getting within 30 minutes of your interview time and you’re nowhere near home or the virtual interview site, call or text your contact, or their assistant, and reschedule. Don’t reschedule more than once. Be aware that even one rescheduling may count against you.

Don’t scramble for files or stats during the interview. Have a presentation or printed materials within arms reach if they are needed.You don’t want to be scrambling for anything during the interview. If you have samples to show, send them in a slideshow in advance, or share it via Google Drive or Dropbox, or have a link poised and ready for a screen share. If there’s stats you may need, go ahead and look them up in advance, print them out and put a bright post it on it labeled STATS. If you can verify what software tools your potential employer uses for screen shares and presentations, do so before the interview. If there are equations or demos you will be expected to show, run through those so they’re very familiar to you.

Don’t eat during interviews (or any audio/video chat), Anything edible needs to be kept out of sight so it’s not tempting. People can eat out of sheer boredom or nervousness to have something for their hands to do. Even if the interview is only audio, people can still hear chewing, and it’s not at all appealing. No gum. No throat lozenges. No candy. Eat before the interview so your stomach’s not growling, and especially for video interviews, brush your teeth. Have a glass of water within arms reach so if your mouth dries out from talking, you can remedy that quickly.

Don’t surf the web or check social media during the interview. Your interviewer deserves your undivided attention. Which brings us to…

Don’t leave your phone’s ringer on. It should be muted and set to airplane mode. If you can tuck your phone in a drawer so it’s not easy to see or reach, even better. On video it will be painfully obvious that you are distracted. If you zone out and miss the conversation, it will be painfully obvious in your voice.

Don’t interview without a headset and/or microphone set up. You want to hear them, and they need to hear you. We regularly check out webcasts, and it’s pretty evident who prepares for interviews with their equipment and who doesn’t. Save the earbuds for your workout and unexpected calls; interviews are planned in advance. Get a quality headset and set up a microphone near your computer.

Don’t wait until interview day to screen test yourself. Do a test run on your equipment. Video chat with a friend or family member if you don’t already use VOIP software regularly. Use Photo Booth, Facetime, or a similar app, and record yourself talking to the computer. How do you look? Is your face centered in the monitor’s screen? Are you nervous? Are you too soft or too loud? Are you enunciating? Does your shirt fit? If you have time, get feedback from someone else on the screen test.

Don’t interview near noisy appliances in or outside your home. This is what makes café interviews problematic. If your background involves coffee bean grinders or blenders whipping smoothies, it will be audible in your interview. If you can, turn off your home’s A/C or heat during your interview so it doesn’t just start mid-conversation and suddenly make it impossible to hear. Try to avoid conducting an interviews within earshot of barking dogs, landscapers, sanitation and recycling truck pickups, or construction noises in the background. It bears repeating: Bring a headset and mic so you are front and center on the audio, not your environment.

Don’t interview in large, wide open spaces. Interviewing in a large open room allows sound to travel instead of staying contained near your screen. Interviewing outside also allows natures sounds and urban traffic sounds to drown your voice out. A small room with a closing door is a better choice; if you don’t have such a room in your home, check in with a local library, coworking space, or chamber of commerce.

BONUS Don’t forget to have questions ready about the role or the company. People seeking jobs can be so preoccupied with all they have to share about themselves, they can forget the interview is a two-way street. The company needs to present itself as appealing to you, too. Don’t just fixate on benefits with these questions. Ask questions that focus on the position. Ask about the team you’ll be working with. Ask about how the position has grown over time. Ask about priorities for the position. Ask about community outreach. It’s important to come across as intrigued and engaged about the position, not paid vacations or a 401k.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/online-interviews/feed/0Brother DS-720D Mobile Duplex Color Page Scannerhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/brother-ds-720d-mobile-duplex-color-page-scanner/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/brother-ds-720d-mobile-duplex-color-page-scanner/#respondMon, 16 Apr 2018 09:00:02 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1593Brother Mobile Scanner DS-720D – This scanner is always on the road with us, and it's proven to be vital for creating backup copies of financial, legal, and other important documents. We like to have backup copies of every document. This scanner can scan in color, black and white and grayscale. It can scan single-sided [...]

Brother Mobile Scanner DS-720D – This scanner is always on the road with us, and it’s proven to be vital for creating backup copies of financial, legal, and other important documents. We like to have backup copies of every document.

This scanner can scan in color, black and white and grayscale. It can scan single-sided or double-sided in one swipe. Simply check a “duplex” box in the box to indicate “double-sided.”

The software is excellent at managing multi-page documents; the user simply hits “OK” to continue scanning into the same file, or “Cancel” to complete the job. All scans are automatically titled Image <<00#>> in the Documents file. It’s best to rename the files as you go, but if not the software will not save over an existing, yet-to-be renamed job file. If a paper feeds incorrectly, it’s easy to open the scanner to dislodge it, and try again.

The cable that comes with the scanner is microUSB on one end and USB on the other. The scanner and its cable comes in a convenient moleskin drawstring bag for portability.

One caveat: This scanner is not recommended for photos, carbons, or crumply, lightweight receipt scans. We find our phone camera works better for this type of documentation.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/brother-ds-720d-mobile-duplex-color-page-scanner/feed/0Noise-Canceling vs. Noise Isolation: What’s the Difference? Why Is It Important to Remote Work?https://wifiworkerbees.com/noise-cancelling-vs-noise-isolation-whats-the-difference-why-is-it-important-to-remote-work/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/noise-cancelling-vs-noise-isolation-whats-the-difference-why-is-it-important-to-remote-work/#respondMon, 29 Aug 2016 09:00:49 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1378One of the biggest advantages of remote work is being able to work from anywhere. This may include some of your favorite restaurants, cafes, or bookstores. Unfortunately, a lot of people congregate in these areas, and that means lots of noise and easy distraction for the average remote worker. It also makes making calls [...]

One of the biggest advantages of remote work is being able to work from anywhere. This may include some of your favorite restaurants, cafes, or bookstores. Unfortunately, a lot of people congregate in these areas, and that means lots of noise and easy distraction for the average remote worker. It also makes making calls or recording on location podcast shows very difficult. What tools make this easier? Headsets, earbuds, and microphones definitely help, but they are all not designed the same. A key feature of these tools are noise canceling and noise isolation, but what is the difference between those two terms?

They can sound synonymous, but they actually indicate different features, and are utilized in different ways. It doesn’t help that some marketing materials for headsets and microphones use these terms interchangeably.

Noise isolation products use their physical design to build a barrier between the listener and their environment. For example, in order to hear your playlist during a run or working in a café, the product cups or covers your ear (headphones), or blocks your ear canal (buds). Café noise, traffic, animals, other devices, and people talking aren’t completely eliminated from your awareness, but they are obscured amply enough to enable you to listen to what you want to listen to, without outside distraction.

Noise-canceling uses destructive interference. It allows the desired sound to come through (your playlist), and all other noise is met with a counter noise, or anti-phase, that eliminates it from being heard. Noise-canceling is a feature of higher end headsets and microphones. They are excellent when you need to edit sound recordings, or when making recordings while using a noise-canceling microphone with a pop filter.

It is possible for products to utilize both noise isolation and noise-canceling. This means that the device blocks all it can through its physical design. Then any outside sound that gets in beyond that is blocked by killing the remaining sound waves with destructive interference.

Microphones are sometimes referred to as being noise-canceling too. These type of microphones are designed to limit the amount of background noise captured, picking up sound only in a single direction. So if you are working at a café or coworking space, and anticipate making or receiving calls, consider getting a good travel microphone, or a headset with a microphone wand that is pointed toward your mouth. Your clients will thank you for high quality calls, the surrounding people will be grateful that they aren’t an involuntary third-party in your conversations.

Check out some of our favorite headsets below. The Sennheiser Game Zero is the similar model to the discontinued PC 350 that Dereck has and loves. The Plantronics Voyager Legend is an excellent Bluetooth model; don’t forget it has a charger and is only mono. The Plantronics c435 is Kathleen’s favorite USB headset. And what if you want you want absolute silence, no music? Kathleen has found Hearos ear plugs come in handy. They are a favorite of drummers. She finds they are great for getting quiet if she’s editing technical, complicated copy in a noisy environment.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/noise-cancelling-vs-noise-isolation-whats-the-difference-why-is-it-important-to-remote-work/feed/05 Computer Maintenance Tasks To Perform While Watching TVhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/5-computer-to-dos-during-tv-watching-time/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/5-computer-to-dos-during-tv-watching-time/#respondFri, 26 Aug 2016 09:00:13 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=586Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash One way to maximize TV watching time is to perform computer maintenance that's all too easy to put off, if not forget entirely, until a crisis occurs. Here's five things you can do to help your home computer running optimally while you watch the game or a movie: Run [...]

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/5-computer-to-dos-during-tv-watching-time/feed/0200W Step Down Voltage Converter, Allows North Americans To Use Their Electronics Abroadhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/200w-step-voltage-converter/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/200w-step-voltage-converter/#commentsTue, 23 Aug 2016 09:00:38 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=821200W Step Down Voltage Converter – One of the advantages of remote work is the ability to travel. What many digital nomads learn is that there are lots of different power outlets and voltage standards around the world. This converter will allow you to plug in your 120V electronics in a 240V outlet, which are common outside of [...]

200W Step Down Voltage Converter – One of the advantages of remote work is the ability to travel. What many digital nomads learn is that there are lots of different power outlets and voltage standards around the world. This converter will allow you to plug in your 120V electronics in a 240V outlet, which are common outside of North America.

Don’t expect to be able to run a hair dryer off this converter, but at 200 watts you should be able to run most of your work-related electronics just fine. When paired with an outlet converter, North Americans should be able to get the power they need when traveling to other countries and continents (but check the web to find out just to be certain).

Many devices will support 240V already. But if some of yours do not, this type of device is pretty much a necessity when traveling abroad. If you do need this, be aware that this thing is quite heavy.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/200w-step-voltage-converter/feed/2WhatsApp, An Encrypted Messaging App That Values Message Securityhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/whatsapp-messaging-app/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/whatsapp-messaging-app/#respondMon, 22 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1279WhatsApp – In 2009, two former Yahoo employees sought to create a messaging service that was affordable, ad-free, and didn't need to collect much in the way of names and personal demographics (gender, age, address, etc.) to get an account. Using these three unique strategies in the social media market paid off. Five years in, WhatsApp [...]

WhatsApp – In 2009, two former Yahoo employees sought to create a messaging service that was affordable, ad-free, and didn’t need to collect much in the way of names and personal demographics (gender, age, address, etc.) to get an account. Using these three unique strategies in the social media market paid off. Five years in, WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for $19 million dollars. At the time of that offer, it had 450 million active users.

Digital nomads took note that WhatsApp is a great tool to text and share photos quickly, especially with friends and family who are in other countries. It’s like the more common text messaging and multi-media messaging available on cellular networks, but WhatsApp uses the phone’s data connection instead, so it works over Wi-Fi just fine.

WhatsApp also supports in-app calls to other WhatsApp users, but we haven’t used that feature and can’t comment on how well it performs.

In February 2016, WhatsApp’s users numbered 1 billion. WhatsApp plans to stay independent and autonomous, sticking to its founding principles, for the foreseeable future. (As of Thursday, August 25th, 2016, WhatsApp started sharing data with Facebook and other Facebook owned companies according to this blog post. To opt out of some of the data sharing, please follow the directions in this WhatsApp FAQ entry.)

Also starting in 2016, WhatsApp began offering end to end encryption on all traffic, making it something that would be potentially valuable to businesses as well, and could be a valuable tool when communicating with your remote workers and distributed team members.

UPDATE: In mid-2018, it appears WhatsApp may be changing its approach to security and encryption. Its CEO parted ways with Facebook’s board after Facebook makes changes following the election and Cambridge Analytica fallout. We are keeping an eye on developments while looking for alternatives for reliable, fully encrypted business communications.

The following are examples of issues we are concerned about when we consider using a new app:

Is the app free or paid? If a service is free, typically that means its users are the product for sale. WhatsApp was originally a paid service, although the price was very cheap. Recently, the app has become completely free, so it will be worth watching to see how they intend to generate revenue.

Are there ads? If the app contains ads, this means they probably are collecting demographics on users and users’ relationships to other users, in order to target ads properly: makeup and clothes to teens, baby diapers to 30somethings, etc. What you like and follow can tell people your age without you disclosing an actual birthdate. So far, WhatsApp has remained ad free, but that could be changing soon.

Is it encrypted? If the app hasn’t told users its encrypted, it likely isn’t. As stated earlier, WhatsApp now has end-to-end encryption on all of its conversations.

Terms & Conditions Changes: Changes in terms and conditions since inception are also important, some may indicate they own your content even after you’ve deleted it. Facebook was previously notorious for making information that you shared more public over the years, and that’s why we don’t like to use Facebook Messenger. However, we do recognize WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, but so far we haven’t seen the intent to make information on WhatsApp more public. Quite the opposite seems to be happening, with things getting more private. But WhatsApp does intend to share information with Facebook according to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and FAQ.

Are there apps within the app? If apps are offered, who can make and sell them? Does the app regulate their app store? What info are app makers allowed to access about their users?

Hacks. Has the company ever been hacked? How did they respond? How soon? Was user data stolen? Did they fix the problem or act like there wasn’t a problem?

We’ve been happy with WhatsApp’s approach so far. For a young company, it applied a lot of wisdom and respect for its users into its approach. We hope that continues, but we will keep an eye out for alternatives for business communications.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/whatsapp-messaging-app/feed/0We’d Love To Connect With You On Pinterest Toohttps://wifiworkerbees.com/pinterest-too/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/pinterest-too/#respondFri, 19 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1431Hey, everyone! We just thought we'd let you know that we also post all our remote work articles on Pinterest too. In addition, we also share other content we find interesting. You can find us at https://www.pinterest.com/wifiworkerbees/, or just by searching for Wifi Worker Bees on the Pinterest site. We'd love to connect with you there [...]

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/pinterest-too/feed/0Private Internet Access, A VPN Service Provider To Help Keep You Safe When Using Public Wi-Fihttps://wifiworkerbees.com/private-internet-access/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/private-internet-access/#respondThu, 18 Aug 2016 09:00:33 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=748Photo from Pixabay. All rights reserved. Private Internet Access – Being a remote worker means having the convenience of working from anywhere with a Wi-Fi signal. Using a VPN, though, helps keep remote workers more secure when using public Wi-Fi or other networks. We have a home router with built-in VPN, but we also [...]

Private Internet Access – Being a remote worker means having the convenience of working from anywhere with a Wi-Fi signal. Using a VPN, though, helps keep remote workers more secure when using public Wi-Fi or other networks.

We have a home router with built-in VPN, but we also have Private Internet Access as a backup solution when we travel. After some recent articles on the insecurity of public Wi-Fi networks, using a VPN just makes sense to help keep our data safe. Private Internet Access is one of many companies providing VPN services today.

We like Private Internet Access because it is incredibly affordable, works on just about any operating system and mobile device. After reading many reviews on VPN providers, we found that Private Internet Access was often listed in the top 5 providers, many times at a #1 or #2 ranking.

When choosing a VPN service, it’s a good idea to talk to your company’s IT department first as they might already have a preferred VPN service for employees. But if they don’t, or you’re freelancing and don’t have a VPN service provider already, give Private Internet Access a look. We always recommend you do your own investigation of service providers. We’ve been happy customers of Private Internet Access for a couple of years now.

Even when using a VPN, as well as other security practices, there is still a chance that your data could be compromised. Security is hard, and new vulnerabilities are discovered every day. Even VPNs are occasionally subject to vulnerabilities that could expose your data, although those vulnerabilities are usually repaired quickly. The best you can do is be as secure as possible. Generally speaking, VPNs provide a much needed extra layer of security when using public Wi-Fi networks.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/private-internet-access/feed/0LapDome, Improve Screen Visibility in the Great Outdoors (But With Some Shortcomings)https://wifiworkerbees.com/lapdome-improve-screen-visibility-great-outdoors/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/lapdome-improve-screen-visibility-great-outdoors/#respondWed, 17 Aug 2016 09:00:34 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1407Lapdome – I like to work outside when I can, even though I have a home office. Once you have the ability to work outside, exotic work locales become a real possibility. I consider the ability to work outside another perk of remote work. As anyone who has tried to do work outdoors knows, glare is your enemy. [...]

Lapdome – I like to work outside when I can, even though I have a home office. Once you have the ability to work outside, exotic work locales become a real possibility. I consider the ability to work outside another perk of remote work.

As anyone who has tried to do work outdoors knows, glare is your enemy. The best equipment I had found to counter the glare was the Moshi anti-glare screen protector, which admittedly does a very good job. But it’s not perfect, as I often end up moving around a bit to find the best spot to sit with the least amount of glare.

During July’s Amazon Prime Day, one of the items on special was the Lapdome. It looked like the perfect solution to the problem of glare. I’ve used it on a couple of different occasions now, and I have mixed feelings about this product.

First and foremost, it does do the job that it sets out to do. It really reduces the glare and the screen is incredibly readable when using the Lapdome. The Lapdome really goes out of its way to reduce any stray light. The material is fairly thick, colored black on the inside, and includes a black keyboard cover that helps reduce any reflected light from the keyboard that might hit your laptop screen.

During my testing, I didn’t remove the Moshi anti-glare protector, but it was obvious that there was even less glare when using the Lapdome. So in combination, my glare issues aren’t really much of an issue anymore. I won’t say the glare is completely gone, because if the sun is directly behind you, then you’ll still get some glare on the screen. I don’t think there is anything you can do about that, except have a large structure behind you to block off the sun.

Sadly, I encountered a few problems while using the Lapdome, but I was able to overcome all of them. However, they are something you should be aware of:

My laptop (a Macbook Air) gets really hot. In fact, it got so hot that I was having real problems using it, as it started behaving weirdly. Ultimately, I helped reduce the heat issue by not using the black fabric keyboard cover that comes with the Lapdome. I also started using an external cooling pad that keeps air moving under the computer. The computer fan still runs, but it doesn’t appear to be overheating with the cooling pad running too. The cooling pad can be powered by a USB charger.

Typing in the Lapdome was uncomfortable for me. It just felt as if my arms were being pushed in by the opening, and the my hands were being pushed down by the keyboard cover. So I switched to using an external USB keyboard and mouse. Which now means that when using the Lapdome, I need quite of bit of tabletop space for all my gear.

I am unable to connect to my 5GHz Wi-Fi while my laptop is in the Lapdome. I was able to connect to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi just fine though. So this really isn’t an issue for me, but might be for you if you only have access to 5GHz. I bet an external USB Wi-Fi adapter would solve the problem though, but that’s one more piece of gear you will need.

I haven’t tested how long the laptop would work in the Lapdome, mainly because I don’t have a power outlet on my deck. But I am able to work for a couple hours, though, using the Lapdome with a cooling pad, external keyboard and mouse. After that, my laptop runs out of juice and I’m back indoors searching for a power outlet.

Even with the shortcomings and issues mentioned above, I plan on continuing to use the Lapdome as it cuts the glare better than any other product I have used. For me, the ability to work outside outweighs the issues with this device. Given the cost of the product, I do hope that future versions include better ventilation to reduce the heat issues. But until then, I’ll use this product until I discover something better.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/lapdome-improve-screen-visibility-great-outdoors/feed/0LICEcap, A Small And Free Screen Capture Applicationhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/licecap/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/licecap/#respondTue, 16 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1251Sometimes it's just easier to show, rather than tell, someone how to perform a task on a computer. For remote teams, tools like LICEcap can be a lifesaver. LICEcap is a program that helps users create animated screen captures. It was created by Cockos Incorporated. The application enables users to select a section of the screen, record [...]

Sometimes it’s just easier to show, rather than tell, someone how to perform a task on a computer. For remote teams, tools like LICEcap can be a lifesaver.

LICEcap is a program that helps users create animated screen captures. It was created by Cockos Incorporated. The application enables users to select a section of the screen, record action performed in that section of screen, and save that recording as an animated GIF (Graphical Interchange Format). Because nearly all systems can view GIFs, it is an ideal format for sharing.

LICEcap can be used for recording many different tasks, including recording demos, submitting software bug reports, and creating instructional videos. LICEcap seems best suited to making brief recordings. Because it doesn’t have audio capabilities with this application, the creator would need to provide proper context when sharing these animated GIFs.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/licecap/feed/0HTTPS Everywhere, The Web Browser Extension That Helps Keep Your Web Browsing Securehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/https-everywhere/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/https-everywhere/#respondMon, 15 Aug 2016 09:00:59 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=866One of the major advantages of remote work is that you can essentially work from anywhere that there is Wi-Fi or some other form of public access available; however, this leads to some security issues. For example, others may be able to view the work you are doing online because of the open and available [...]

One of the major advantages of remote work is that you can essentially work from anywhere that there is Wi-Fi or some other form of public access available; however, this leads to some security issues. For example, others may be able to view the work you are doing online because of the open and available nature of the network. One way to improve your security is to use secure websites.

HTTPS Everywhere is a Chrome, Firefox, and Opera extension that helps provide a safer web experience. HTTPS stands for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure,” meaning sites are encrypted. HTTP, without the S, indicates that the information exchanged between the site and your web browser is notencrypted. Information that is not encrypted is more likely to be seen by other people or malicious devices.

In order to help improve overall web security, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) created the HTTPS Everywhere project. According to the website, the EFF created a way to circumvent the limited support most sites offer for HTTPS. HTTPS Everywhere attempts to rewrite web requests to use HTTPS instead of regular HTTP.

Although the plugin doesn’t automatically force HTTPS for all sites, it does so with most of the popular ones, and you have the option to create rules for other sites to include support for them in HTTPS Everywhere.

Obviously, it would be best for all sites to default to using HTTPS for security and privacy reasons. Sadly, many don’t. But the good news is that the number of sites that do support HTTPS is growing, even if a site doesn’t support it by default.

To know if you are using HTTPS, look up in Chrome’s search field. There should a padlock symbol, and the beginning of your web address should be “https://”. Using another browser? You can see examples of how Firefox displays a secure web address here, how Opera displays a secure web address here, how Safari displays a secure web address here. Internet Explorer 9 notifies you within the window that secure content is displayed (older versions, like IE8, may not correctly support secure websites without changing settings, find out more here.)

Safer web-surfing is just one part of better practices as a remote worker. Some additional actions that you can take include setting up firewalls, using a VPN, and running antivirus regularly.

Even when using HTTPS, as well as other security practices, there is still a chance that your data could be compromised. Security is hard, and new vulnerabilities are discovered every day. Even HTTPS is occasionally subject to vulnerabilities that could expose your data, although those vulnerabilities are usually repaired quickly. The best you can do is be as secure as possible, and generally speaking, HTTPS is much more secure than regular HTTP.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/https-everywhere/feed/0Work From Home? Consider These Pointers For A Home Office Setuphttps://wifiworkerbees.com/work-home-consider-keys-safer-reliable-home-internet-access/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/work-home-consider-keys-safer-reliable-home-internet-access/#commentsMon, 08 Aug 2016 09:00:47 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=873Image found on Pixabay.com. All Rights Reserved. If you're planning to work from home, you want to make sure you have the following setup: A computer with a good battery life A desk A comfortable chair with back support The right mental attitude We'll cover all four in this post. Your core workstation [...]

If you’re planning to work from home, you want to make sure you have the following setup:

A computer with a good battery life

A desk

A comfortable chair with back support

The right mental attitude

We’ll cover all four in this post.

Your core workstation may be a laptop. Laptops are great for mobility, however, they really weren’t designed for a person to use for hours or days of work at a time. Your body wasn’t designed to be hunched over a small screen or a small keyboard all day long.

For better ergonomics in your home office, you need an easy to read screen that’s eye level when you are seated sitting upright; your keyboard is at hand level when seated. A convenient rhyme to remember is “elbows and knees at 90 degrees.” If the laptop isn’t comfortable in those conditions, consider these accessories: a raised platform for your laptop, or maybe a much larger screen that the laptop plugs into.

If you are using a larger screen, you will also want

a larger keyboard that plugs into your laptop or works wirelessly

a mouse

a plastic file slot holder for your laptop since it will be on, but likely remain shut while you are working.

The photo below illustrates a much better ergonomic set up for a home office:

Your feet shouldn’t dangle from your chair. They should rest on the floor, or a footrest. Working on a stool or hightop chair isn’t good for your back or your neck. These chairs can also cut off the circulation in your legs.

In case you lose power, you will want to have a plan for a backup power supply so you can keep right on working for at least two more hours.

High speed internet is a must. You will need a modem, firewall, router, and a Wi-Fi access point. If your Wi-Fi signal is near your cable outlet and you work elsewhere, consider getting Wi-Fi extenders.

In the event of home internet failure, you will want to have a backup plan to keep working, perhaps a dedicated or cellular hotspot.

Don’t forget your smartphone (or cellphone.) You will want a reliable, strong cell signal throughout your house. If you find this is a problem on a multi-floor residence, or the higher floors of an apartment building, you may want to invest in a signal booster.

Be mindful of VOIP services available to you over the internet should you need to use those for calls. Just remember using VOIP means having headsets and microphones handy so you’re assured clear, easy to hear communication.

The right mental attitude means being able to concentrate for hours at a time and not be distracted easily.

What home office items can’t you live without? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/work-home-consider-keys-safer-reliable-home-internet-access/feed/2How Virtual Teams Stay Present From A Distancehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/virtual-teams-stay/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/virtual-teams-stay/#respondWed, 03 Aug 2016 09:00:01 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=581Photo from Pexels.com. All rights reserved. There's two big presumptions out there about remote work: 1) It's not possible to improve upon the "all hands on deck" or "everyone in one office" work environment. 2) A worker is left alone to do their job and he/she doesn't have to interface with their team or boss, ever. [...]

1) It’s not possible to improve upon the “all hands on deck” or “everyone in one office” work environment.

2) A worker is left alone to do their job and he/she doesn’t have to interface with their team or boss, ever.

Both presumptions couldn’t be more wrong, because:

1) Remote workers use technology to stay present with their teammates and bosses, often better than they would in person. More importantly, the contact is focused and purpose-driven.

2) No work arrangement can survive without trust and communication, and that trust and communication is a two-way street. You don’t have to be in the same place to be on the same page.

Here are five trends we notice in many remote team interviews about the advantages of using chatrooms and video chat to stay present and productive:

ENHANCING FOCUS: Workers can focus on their own projects for hours at a time. That’s a big challenge in most traditional offices, if not downright impossible. This means higher productivity and less frustration for all team members.

MAKING CONTACT PURPOSEFUL AND DELIBERATE: Remote teams’ communication becomes intentional, less redundant, and less time-consuming. People aren’t interrupting each other unless it’s completely necessary. And when interactions do occur, the opportunities are valued more, because they are rare. Many virtual teams organize once a year conferences for in-person mingling, and when new team members are brought on, they may spend their first couple weeks in person before fully going remote, just so they start out on the right foot with the rest of the team, all sides get a feel for each other’s work styles and personality.

NEVER DECLARE EMAIL BANKRUPTCY AGAIN: When teams use chat and video chat tools, they don’t overload each other’s inboxes with questions that could be solved in a 2-5 minute chat. Chatrooms allow for themed conversations in different windows, and no one is included in a chat that doesn’t really need to be there.

BETTER ORGANIZED CHATS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: Work-dedicated chat spaces are separate from water cooler/humorous shares chat spaces. Because chatrooms have workers organize their chats and invite relevant parties, it’s easier to find those conversations, date-stamped, for future reference. Some video chat rooms also let you record conversations. There are other tools like videoconferencing for companywide meetings with multiple offices, or for connecting for hours at a time.

INCORPORATING OTHER SOFTWARE TOOLS INTO ONE COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCTIVITY INTERFACE: idonethis is a simple way for team members to report their daily progress; the responses can be sent via email or posted into Slack (a chatroom program); Skype can be used for quick audio or video calls; Google Hangouts can be used for longer term video contact. There are whiteboards, kanban-style project management software, and other collaborative tools that integrate seamlessly with many chat programs. Zapier can sometimes incorporate these tools all into one dashboard.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/virtual-teams-stay/feed/0Three Reasons Why Owning Your Cable Modem is Better Than Renting Ithttps://wifiworkerbees.com/arris-motorola-sb6121-surfboard-cable-modem/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/arris-motorola-sb6121-surfboard-cable-modem/#respondTue, 02 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=800We own our cable modem and it turned out to be a pretty good decision on our part. And we feel it could be a good decision on your part too for the following reasons. Cost savings Renting the modem is often $10-$15 a month, but buying our modem cost about $80. However, should your modem [...]

]]>We own our cable modem and it turned out to be a pretty good decision on our part. And we feel it could be a good decision on your part too for the following reasons.

Cost savings Renting the modem is often $10-$15 a month, but buying our modem cost about $80. However, should your modem break, you will need to pay the cost of replacing the modem yourself. We only upgrade when we want a boost in performance that our current modem doesn’t support, which turns out to be only once every 5 years or so. So the cost savings really add up.

Provider Access We’re not big fans of our cable provider being able to control the network equipment in our home. We understand they need some access to improve performance and secure their networks, but they may also take control of the rented device and do things that users are not aware of. See the next item for an example.

User Data Access In 2014, many Xfinity cable modems became public Wi-Fi hotspots; other providers offer similar functionality. Allegedly its a separate channel on the modem, and only a small set users can be signed on to one Wi-Fi hotspot at a time. What was less clear with this change was the security. Although the providers claim this is safe, we know that software bugs and security vulnerabilities happen where they are often least expected. Therefore, we have a concern that users of the public Wi-Fi may accidentally be able access other devices plugged into the network, or infect a virus or other malware onto the other equipment also using the same modem. Users who wish to disable this public Wi-Fi have to log on to their cable provider account and check their modem’s settings, or just buy their own modem and not be subject to this feature at all.

To buy a cable modem, check with your provider for a list of compatible modems you can buy. Should you purchase your own modem, you will want to notify your cable provider you own your modem and don’t wish to rent anymore, and return that rental to the nearest cable company office. Keep your receipt from the cable company showing the modem was returned.

From that point on, periodically, you will need to monitor your bill closely to make sure a rent fee is not being charged. About once a year our cable provider decides to start charging us for modem rental, even though we’ve always owned our modem. It’s usually not a big deal to get them to remove the charges, but it gets annoying that it keeps happening.

Please note that many modems also include router and Wi-Fi capabilities. We’re not big fans of this multi-functionality in a modem. We prefer the modem just be the modem, and use a second device as a router and Wi-Fi access point. This non-modem router will often include a firewall to better protect your network.

Amazon has a large selection of a cable modems available, and will likely have one that will work with your cable provider.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/arris-motorola-sb6121-surfboard-cable-modem/feed/0What is Password Padding? And Why It May Not Provide Extra Securityhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/what-is-password-padding/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-is-password-padding/#respondMon, 01 Aug 2016 09:00:40 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1087Imagine a password as a physical door key. In the ideal scenario, a strong, hard to crack password is like a door key that has lots of distinctive notches and curves. Those distinctive notches and curves make that key harder to imitate or replicate. In the same vein, every time you make your password a little more [...]

Imagine a password as a physical door key. In the ideal scenario, a strong, hard to crack password is like a door key that has lots of distinctive notches and curves. Those distinctive notches and curves make that key harder to imitate or replicate. In the same vein, every time you make your password a little more unique, you make it harder to recreate for a stranger. That’s where the ideas behind password padding comes in.

Password padding is making your passwords longer (at least 15-20 characters), and framing your core password with additional characters on both ends. The thought is that by doing this, it makes the password more secure.

If you recall in another post, “long” and “complicated” are good policies to take with passwords.

Repeating characters within a password or in the framing of your password is not a good idea. Let’s say you padded both ends of your core password with the same character repeated, or a consecutive or logical sequence. This wouldn’t help a password’s security much at all.

Reusing passwords is not a good idea, and reused passwords with slightly different padding is not much of an improvement.

Interestingly enough, some sources say to use special characters in the padding, but not within the password. The reasoning is that this is hard to remember. Just aware that an intruder is trying hundreds (or more) combinations in one sitting; if your password is easy for you, it’s even easier for them. The intruder is more persistent figuring out the password than the person just trying to create a password and get on with their lives.

Get in the habit of creating robust passwords. If you have trouble remembering robust passwords, get a password manager and use multi-factor authentication to log into it. We have used LastPass, and have been happy with it.

Unfortunately, some websites in your life might cap your password length at 12 characters or less. Other websites don’t allow using certain special characters, or sometimes any special characters in your passwords.

What to do, then? In situations where your password length is limited, you will want to create the most robust password you can. You will want to definitely use multi-factor authentication if it’s available.

If multi-factor authentication isn’t an option, and the site insists on using insecure passwords, consider whether or not you really need to use that particular site. If you do, make your password as long and as complicated as possible for the best security you can achieve within the limitations of the site.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-is-password-padding/feed/0EBags Packing Cubes, Pack Efficiently and Quicklyhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/packing-cubes/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/packing-cubes/#respondFri, 29 Jul 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1274EBags Packing Cubes – Are you looking for something that allows for better organization on the road? Looking for a way to keep your items better organized within your bag to maximize space? Then once you arrive, keeping them that way after you unpack, and not losing items? We've found EBags Packing Cubes are an excellent [...]

EBags Packing Cubes – Are you looking for something that allows for better organization on the road? Looking for a way to keep your items better organized within your bag to maximize space? Then once you arrive, keeping them that way after you unpack, and not losing items?

We’ve found EBags Packing Cubes are an excellent choice for all of the above. Sets of EBags come in multiple dimensions; the largest EBags are great for folded pants and bottoms, while the smallest are great for underwear, tech adapters, and meds.

Ebags are sold quantities of 3-6 cubes per set, and are offered in ten different colors. If a family (or other traveling group) purchased sets for each member, everyone could keep track of their own items by color very easily.

Even when not traveling long distances, Dereck keeps one of the slim EBags in his backpack. It holds all the various small electronics he likes to have with him when he’s not working from the home office. The EBags themselves are not waterproof, so he often puts the the pieces of equipment in Ziplock bags for better protection and organization.

One of the great perks of remote work is the freedom to travel. And from time to time we share a piece of technology or technique related to travel. Packing cubes are one of those items. Many manufacturers make packing cubes, but after reading lots of reviews and opinions, we settled on the EBags line for their quality and price.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/packing-cubes/feed/0HooToo Tripmate Elite, A Travel Router That’s Also A Device Chargerhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/hootoo-tripmate-elite/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/hootoo-tripmate-elite/#commentsTue, 26 Jul 2016 09:00:54 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=793HooToo Tripmate Elite – This is the travel router that we currently use. It’s a fantastic device that has a built-in battery, so it’s self-powered and can also be used to charge USB devices. The software makes it extremely convenient to share a single Ethernet port in a hotel, or to use as a Wi-Fi bridge that [...]

HooToo Tripmate Elite– This is the travel router that we currently use. It’s a fantastic device that has a built-in battery, so it’s self-powered and can also be used to charge USB devices. The software makes it extremely convenient to share a single Ethernet port in a hotel, or to use as a Wi-Fi bridge that keeps us from having to reconfigure all our devices when using a public Wi-Fi. Also it has a built-in firewall that provides some extra protection.

Note: It appears that HooToo has recently released an upgraded version of this product, and the older version is no longer available. We haven’t used this new version, but reading the features and specs leads us to believe it is still a comparable product and would fit our needs for use. So the Amazon links in this article have been changed to link to this new version.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/hootoo-tripmate-elite/feed/2Adapters and Chargers are Crucial For Travelhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/adapters-and-chargers-travel/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/adapters-and-chargers-travel/#respondMon, 25 Jul 2016 09:00:30 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=546 Judging from the prevalence of chargers for sale at grocery and drug stores today, it's all too easy to forget to pack the items needed for our devices to work while we're away from home. But what if you're staying somewhere extremely rural, or not "just like home?" For example, maybe you're staying in a [...]

Judging from the prevalence of chargers for sale at grocery and drug stores today, it’s all too easy to forget to pack the items needed for our devices to work while we’re away from home.

But what if you’re staying somewhere extremely rural, or not “just like home?” For example, maybe you’re staying in a family cabin in the mountains, a historic farmhouse with vintage two prong outlets, or overseas where the electricity works a little differently. Each country can have different plug arrangements, some prongs and socket holes are positioned at an angle instead of straight.

Chances are, your destination will have what’s convenient locally, not what’s convenient for all visitors. Rural areas for skiing or mountain lodges won’t necessarily have a lot of tech supplies for sale in the corner store, either.

Apple 45W Power Supply – We always keep an extra power supply on hand in case one of ours should stop working. We never want to be without power on the road.

BESTEK 150W Car Power Inverter (DC to AC) – By plugging this inverter into a 12V automobile DC outlet and it’ll convert it to 110V AC power. The 150W is enough power to handle a computer and a cellular modem/hotspot.

We like this unit because it’s small and easily fits in our travel packs. Although this unit is small, it does have a fan that makes some noise.

Micro USB to Mini USB Adapter – This adapter has a micro USB port at one end and a mini USB plug at the other. It can be used with the USB to micro USB cables featured below.

USB Ethernet Adapter– If you need to connect your device over a short distance to your Ethernet connection, this is a great adapter to have.

Retractable USB Cable – Perhaps you need to charge your phone, but you need more than 6″ distance to connect the wall adapter or your laptop to the phone. These retractable cables are excellent for those situations.

Monster Outlets To Go Power Strip – When outlets are a premium, this power strip provides 2 outlets for the price of one. If you’re fortunate enough to be working at less peak times at a cafe, airport, or library, you can charge several devices at once.

Videochats: A videochat enables video footage of workers at their desk via webcam.

Some videochat apps take still photos of team members at their desk every few minutes. Team members invite one another to chat live by clicking on their photo, or photos of several team members for a group chat. With a tool like this one, a team can spare themselves never-ending email chains when issues arise.

If team members step away from their desk, their images become inactive. If they need a private moment, they can “pause” their webcam. They can set a time delay for meetings that lets team members know if they are available immediately, in a couple minutes, or in ten minutes.

A Meeting Application: If the whole team, or multiple offices around the world need to meet for over an hour, videochat apps usually won’t have the endurance for that. Meeting applications, however, do.

Overlap: Some services offer multiple categories, like a chatroom or messaging app that allows VOIP as well.

Platform Incompatibility: Not all services are available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

During the interview process for a job, you would want to clarify what the team’s preferred communication and progress tracking applications and technologies are, and be comfortable using those.

Tools change all the time: they merge, they get bought out, and new ones evolve. It’s important to stay on top of tools, introduce new ones that may help the team better function, and be receptive to other teammates’ suggestions about improving team communications.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/types-remote-team-tools-roles-play/feed/0AT&T Unite Mobile No-Contract 4G WiFi Hotspot, Useful For Both Home And On The Roadhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/att-unite-mobile-no-contract-4g-wifi-hotspot/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/att-unite-mobile-no-contract-4g-wifi-hotspot/#respondWed, 13 Jul 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=797AT&T Unite Mobile No-Contract 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot – This is a backup internet connection at the house, and can also be a primary way we can connect to the internet while traveling. Although we also have Project Fi from Google, if we were traveling full-time we’d probably own a second device with another carrier just to ensure [...]

AT&T Unite Mobile No-Contract 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot – This is a backup internet connection at the house, and can also be a primary way we can connect to the internet while traveling. Although we also have Project Fi from Google, if we were traveling full-time we’d probably own a second device with another carrier just to ensure connectivity while on the road. We also suspect that using cellular hotspots can be more secure than using public Wi-Fi.

To learn more about the importance of hotspots, click here. To learn more about Project Fi, another hotspot option, click here.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/att-unite-mobile-no-contract-4g-wifi-hotspot/feed/0Universal Worldwide Power Plug Converter, The Swiss Army Knife Of Electrical Outlet Plug Configurationshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/universal-worldwide-power-plug-converter/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/universal-worldwide-power-plug-converter/#respondTue, 12 Jul 2016 09:00:13 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=822Universal Worldwide Power Plug Converter – If you consult World Standards, you will notice that different plugs and sockets are the norm in different countries. There's 2-3 prongs, sometimes they are angled, sometimes they are rectangular and flat, sometimes they are cylindrical with round tips. When globetrotting, this converter will allow you to convert from [...]

Universal Worldwide Power Plug Converter – If you consult World Standards, you will notice that different plugs and sockets are the norm in different countries. There’s 2-3 prongs, sometimes they are angled, sometimes they are rectangular and flat, sometimes they are cylindrical with round tips. When globetrotting, this converter will allow you to convert from one power plug type to another very easily without packing multiple, separate adapters. The prongs you are not using are easily folded away.

UPnP stands for Universal Plug n’ Play. It’s a feature in our devices (phones, computers, printers, webcams, security cameras, etc.) and our routers that makes them discoverable to each other. From there, connections are made automatically. That doesn’t sound bad, does it? It sounds extremely convenient.

The problem with this convenience is, it’s easy for an intruder to manipulate. What looks like a familiar network to your device isn’t always a network. Letting your device trust what’s out there and connect automatically can lead to stolen personal information, stolen client information, lost functionality, and a bunch of problems.

And you might say, what about my firewall? But the UPnP is possibly configured to bypass your firewall; metaphorically, it has a VIP pass while most traffic is stuck behind the velvet rope.

In 2013, Computerworld Magazine noted that DHS and security firm Rapid7 surveyed devices in the US. They found 81 million devices with UPnP still enabled. Ars Technica discussed UPnP’s problems in a story published that same year. Click the links to learn more.

To turn off UPnP on a device, see your Settings, Control Panel, or Preferences menu.

To turn it off on a router, you open a web browser, type in the router’s IP address, find the menu for controlling UPnP, and uncheck it and click Save. For example, click the following link for how to do it on a DLink router.

[Mysteriously, some brands of router may not let you do this.]

Always know what network you are connecting to. Connect to it manually. Ideally, the network isn’t “open,” it’s password protected. And if it’s not your network, always use a VPN to be on the safe side.

Don’t “favorite” networks at people’s houses. You and Bob might be best friends and you trust “Bob’s network” when you visit. But you don’t need your phone or other device assuming any “Bob’s network” it encounters when you travel is trustworthy and connecting to it by default. There’s a lot of Bobs out there.

Before you travel, create a network on your travel router. Then, make sure your devices are set to connect to it and only it. Do a trial run before you leave to see if it all works.

https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-is-upnp-and-why-disengage-it/feed/0Blue Yeti, A Spectacular Desktop Microphonehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/blue-yeti/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/blue-yeti/#respondThu, 07 Jul 2016 09:00:28 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=809Blue Yeti – This is the microphone we use in our home office when recording online videos, webinars, podcast episodes, and interviews. The quality is excellent on this microphone. So if you're not into wearing headsets for online meetings, this is a microphone that you should definitely check out! We’ve also added a pop filter to [...]

Blue Yeti – Thisis the microphone we use in our home office when recording online videos, webinars, podcast episodes, and interviews. The quality is excellent on this microphone. So if you’re not into wearing headsets for online meetings, this is a microphone that you should definitely check out!

We’ve also added a pop filter to the mic to reduce some vocal annoyances. Currently we place the microphone stand on some towels to reduce the capture of vibrations when typing on a keyboard and recording presentations. The towels also help absorb vibrations should we bump the desk with our bodies. At some point we are going to invest in a better vibration dampening mechanism.

We’re obviously not alone in our love of this microphone. At the time of this writing, there are 6000+ 5-star reviews for this product on Amazon.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/blue-yeti/feed/0Wifi Worker Bees Bookshelf: Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hanssonhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/bookshelf-remote-jason-fried-david/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/bookshelf-remote-jason-fried-david/#commentsWed, 06 Jul 2016 09:00:53 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=498Remote: Office Not Required is a manifesto about changing the work paradigm in the US and other industrialized nations. It dispels prevailing myths about remote work, and presents actual problems with the 20th century system of a "central office, with all staff in that office." You can check out a Crown Publishing slideshow here. "The [...]

Remote: Office Not Required is a manifesto about changing the work paradigm in the US and other industrialized nations. It dispels prevailing myths about remote work, and presents actual problems with the 20th century system of a “central office, with all staff in that office.” You can check out a Crown Publishing slideshow here.

“The future belongs to those who get it…remote work is here, and it’s here to stay.” –Jason Fried and David Heineman Hansson

Remote: Office Not Required provides tips about how Basecamp (formerly 37signals) handles the unique challenges of remote work; these issues affect workers and employers. The issues include staying connected, avoiding isolation, staying present and on task with a team, finding key players, spotting weak performers, avoiding burnout, separating work and family time, cutting distractions, and building motivation.

Here are some of our favorite takeaways:

HOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING OR IS INCONSISTENT:

Hiring professionals, but not trusting them to work unsupervised.Remote cites the example of how accounting and legal are often sourced outside the office, but the internal workforce is on a short leash. Why is that?

Staff is all in the same building but not necessarily on the same page. Having employees always on site doesn’t compensate for a weak culture, and it doesn’t prevent errors. Companies with strong cultures have people who can function without asking permission for every move they make. In these cultures, the worker knows what the company expects, and what anyone else on the team would do in their position. Strong cultures can handle employees offsite better than those with weak cultures.

Everyone has to be in the office 9-5, daily: Insisting everyone has to approach their job the same way and during the same hours doesn’t get the most work, or the best work, done. It creates a false sense of equality and keeps managers doing the babysitting instead of focusing on bigger picture items.

It’s a workplace, but no one can really work in it: People are always getting interrupted for meetings or spontaneous, chatty conversation. Goodbye, concentration! Since Remote was published in 2014, the New Yorker posted a story on the failure of open office plans. This summer, Forbes shared a story indicating if you have a remote personality, working in an office is most likely drudgery for you.

HOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM ISN’T WORKING, BY THE NUMBERS:

A central office is a sunk cost, there’s no refunds for rent already paid. But if what matters is where the most work gets done, and you get a hour more of work done at home versus the office, that’s a 20% improvement. One way to recoup sunk cost is to implement a telework strategy. Empty office space can be sold or rented. According to Remote, IBM did, and they made over a billion dollars in the process.

Commutes waste time.Remote cites that a 45 minute one way commute adds up to almost 400 hours a year, minus vacation and holidays. Basecamp built their namesake product, their most popular and successful product in that amount of time. What could you do with an extra 400 hours a year? Additional data about how much time is wasted in commutes appears in the Washington Post here.

That other commuting number=money. An SUV or pickup truck driver with a 10 mile roundtrip commute could save $10,000 by teleworking instead according to HP’s telework calculator. If you check out the telework calculator, you can discover additional savings based on your own budget.

[SIDEBAR: Per CNN Money, most US families are pretty strapped these days, an extra $10,000 or more could really help pay more bills, pay for college, or save for an emergency fund.]

REMOTE WORK’S STRENGTHS (JUST TO NAME A FEW):

Cutting down on in-person meetings means increasing actual work time. When meetings are less frequent, they become a more unique and valued time expense.

Finding the best, most motivated workers for the task, anywhere in the world

Team camaraderie built with weekly video-conferences or text chats about each person’s progress on team projects

Less burnout with clear cut expectations. Setting a 40 hour a week limit to the employee workweek. The HRisdead.com blog covers more of Basecamp’s practices here.

The technology is there, and more products launch all the time to support it. 37signals uses Screensharing (WebEx), shared to do lists (Basecamp), realtime chatting (IM), and shared file archives.

This is definitely recommended reading for the aspiring remote worker.

Remote work as a trend has a lot of potential to restore sanity to the American workplace. It all comes down to the work and progress being made. With remote work, the strongest performers shine.

That’s how every workplace is supposed to function in the first place, isn’t it?

https://wifiworkerbees.com/bookshelf-remote-jason-fried-david/feed/1What are VPNs and Why Use Them?https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-vpns-and-why-use-them/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-vpns-and-why-use-them/#respondTue, 05 Jul 2016 09:00:36 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=862A VPN is a virtual private network that creates an encrypted tunnel of communications from your computer to a trusted remote server on the internet. It’s worth setting one up if you plan on working outside your home’s network in a café, park, or coworking space; it’s also worthwhile if you travel frequently. Free Wi-Fi is becoming [...]

A VPN is a virtual private network that creates an encrypted tunnel of communications from your computer to a trusted remote server on the internet. It’s worth setting one up if you plan on working outside your home’s network in a café, park, or coworking space; it’s also worthwhile if you travel frequently.

Free Wi-Fi is becoming a more common thing in public spaces, which is great. That being said, it’s important to remember that “free” and “convenient” Wi-Fi can’t make any promises about being risk-free or safe. They often aren’t.

Without a VPN, your computer and all its data—incoming and outgoing—are subject to interference. That interference can be identity and data theft, computer viruses, or other malicious intent.

Maybe you saw Maurits Martijn’s story from Fall 2014. Martijn went to a café with a guy who had a small reader device. In a matter of 2o minutes, the device had pilfered the passwords, names, birthdates, and other personal data from other customers’ devices and they were none the wiser.

That’s not good at all.

And if you’re trying to run a business from your machine, or freelance for numerous clients, their data is just as “at risk” as yours is when you use public Wi-Fi. A security failure could mean failure of your business. That’s why VPNs are so important to take the time to implement.

If you work for a company with an IT department, speak to them about VPN services. They may provide their own VPN service they can share with you, or might provide you with the name of one they recommend. If they don’t have either, there are many VPN providers available to choose from.

We’ve used Private Internet Access (PIA) and have been very happy with it. Private Internet Access is available for many devices, including Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android. But we recommend you do your own research and find a VPN service provider you like and trust.

If you’re tech savvy, you can also set up your own VPN service at home. In the past, we have used the DynDNS in conjunction with our Cisco RV042 router to make it easier to connect to our DIY VPN setup.

Even when using a VPN, as well as other security practices, there is still a chance that your data could be compromised. Security is hard, and new vulnerabilities are discovered every day. Even VPNs are occasionally subject to vulnerabilities that could expose your data, although those vulnerabilities are usually repaired quickly. The best you can do is be as secure as possible, and generally speaking, VPNs provide a much needed extra layer of security when using public Wi-Fi networks.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-vpns-and-why-use-them/feed/0Plantronics Voyager Legend, One Of The Best Bluetooth Headsets We’ve Usedhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-voyager-legend/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-voyager-legend/#respondThu, 30 Jun 2016 09:00:45 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=812Plantronics Voyager Legend – Dereck has tried many bluetooth headsets and generally finds them lacking. He hasn't found one yet that would be his preferred choice for doing important business meetings. However, he said if he had to choose one, this would be the one. In general, he likes the performance and noise-canceling capabilities of this [...]

Plantronics Voyager Legend – Dereck has tried many bluetooth headsets and generally finds them lacking. He hasn’t found one yet that would be his preferred choice for doing important business meetings. However, he said if he had to choose one, this would be the one. In general, he likes the performance and noise-canceling capabilities of this unit. And for about a year, he had this headset as part of his travel kit.

It’s definitely not the cheapest bluetooth headset on the market, but you get what you pay for with this unit. And your colleagues and clients will appreciate the improved audio quality.

This headset that is an excellent go-to device when traveling. Because it’s bluetooth, it can be used with a computer, tablet, and phones. You should also get the charge case as well, as it has a built-in battery and can recharge the headset for those times when you don’t have an AC outlet available. The charge case will also allow you do away with the proprietary USB charging cable that the Voyager Legend normally requires, and allow you to use a standard micro-USB cable instead.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-voyager-legend/feed/0Moshi Anti-Glare Screen Protector, For When You Want To Work Outsidehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/moshi-anti-glare-screen-protector/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/moshi-anti-glare-screen-protector/#respondWed, 29 Jun 2016 09:00:00 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1285Moshi Anti-Glare Screen Protector – Dereck works outside pretty frequently. And as anyone who has tried it knows, one of the major problems working outdoors is glare. This computer screen protector is a godsend, as it greatly reduces the amount of glare on the screen. It is extremely easy to clean. It's also easy to [...]

Moshi Anti-Glare Screen Protector – Dereck works outside pretty frequently. And as anyone who has tried it knows, one of the major problems working outdoors is glare. This computer screen protector is a godsend, as it greatly reduces the amount of glare on the screen. It is extremely easy to clean. It’s also easy to apply because its adhesion is on the frame, not clinging onto the glass. Consequently , there’s no pesky air bubbles to deal with like most adhesive film protectors used on phones.

The Moshi screen protectors are available for a number of Apple, Android, and Amazon devices.

Sadly, there seem to be a lot of imposter products out there, and they may not be nearly as good as the Moshi protectors. Moshi’s website includes a list of authorized retailers for the product.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/moshi-anti-glare-screen-protector/feed/0iWerkz Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard, Use A Tablet As A Backup Computing Devicehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/iwerkz-foldable-bluetooth-keyboard/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/iwerkz-foldable-bluetooth-keyboard/#commentsTue, 28 Jun 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=783iWerkz Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard – This is a great device if you need to use your tablet as a backup computer when traveling. It's a rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard that will go a long way into making that easier. What’s more, this foldable keyboard won’t take up too much space in your pack when traveling. It’s not quite a full [...]

iWerkz Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard – This is a great device if you need to use your tablet as a backup computer when traveling. It’s a rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard that will go a long way into making that easier.

What’s more, this foldable keyboard won’t take up too much space in your pack when traveling. It’s not quite a full size keyboard, but it is large enough to be useful. Furthermore, its travel case also doubles as a fairly sturdy tablet stand.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/iwerkz-foldable-bluetooth-keyboard/feed/1Why Encrypt Your Devices?https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-encrypt-devices/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-encrypt-devices/#respondMon, 27 Jun 2016 09:00:54 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1109Photo by Youssef Sarhan on Unsplash We've discussed file encryption in the past. But do you know you can encrypt your devices? Do you know why that's equally important? Devices include laptops, but they also include smartphones, tablets, hard drives, and thumb drives. Smartphones are extremely convenient: often you can manage a lot of work [...]

We’ve discussed file encryption in the past. But do you know you can encrypt your devices? Do you know why that’s equally important?

Devices include laptops, but they also include smartphones, tablets, hard drives, and thumb drives.

Smartphones are extremely convenient: often you can manage a lot of work communications and your personal life with your phones if you need to. All this convenience has come with a price. You can’t afford to lose your phone, or have it stolen without a higher amount of risk involved.

Should an intruder be able to mess up your work life and your financial life just by stealing your phone? If your device isn’t encrypted, it’s a possibility. And how do you explain to friends and clients their accounts are now at risk as well? The same holds true for tablets, laptops, and drives.

This is why device encryption is really, really important. By enabling the “encrypt” option, your smartphone, tablet or laptop is useless to anyone who accesses it that isn’t you. Encryption on devices is usually tied to the device password, so use a strong password. If they can’t figure out the device the password, then the information on the phone should be useless and indecipherable to them, even if they use other methods to extract the data.

If you have the desire, you might also be to encrypt certain files for extra security in addition to encrypting the entire device. That way if someone should figure out your device password, the extra encryption of the files will protect this more sensitive data. Just don’t use the same password for both the device and this extra encryption.

Be advised you can individually encrypt PDFs before sharing them via email. It’s as simple as checking a box in the Save dialog box and choosing a password. Be sure to share this password with the recipient of the files in a separate communications method.

To locate your device’s encryption option, go to your Settings or Control Panel menu. It is usually represented by a gear or spoked wheel icon. The encrypt option is typically under “Security.”

External hard drives and thumb drives can also be encrypted. However, if you need to share files across Windows and Mac machines, it may be easier for everyone if you encrypt not the drive, but the individual files. Using a tool like WinZip to both compress and encrypt the files enables you to do that.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-encrypt-devices/feed/0Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition Headset, For When Audio Quality And Comfort Mattershttps://wifiworkerbees.com/sennheiser-pc-350-special-edition-high-performance-gaming-headset-discontinued-by-manufacturer/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/sennheiser-pc-350-special-edition-high-performance-gaming-headset-discontinued-by-manufacturer/#respondWed, 22 Jun 2016 09:00:06 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1077Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition High Performance Gaming Headset – Even though it was originally designed for gaming systems, this has become Dereck's favorite headset to use for business. And believe me, he has tried and discounted at least a dozen headsets over the past few years. But he keeps coming back to this [...]

Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition High Performance Gaming Headset – Even though it was originally designed for gaming systems, this has become Dereck’s favorite headset to use for business. And believe me, he has tried and discounted at least a dozen headsets over the past few years. But he keeps coming back to this one.

He says it is an extremely comfortable headset with outstanding sound, over-the-ear noise isolation pads, and a noise-canceling microphone with built-in mute capability. It is not extremely portable because of its size, but it does fold flat into a travel case that came with it. Dereck does take this headset with him while on the road.

Since it is a gaming headset, it really isn’t designed to be used with cellphones or Mac computers. But if you want to use it with Mac devices or phones, you will need a 3.5mm audio adapter that merges the two PC audio jacks into one, like this one. On the Mac, you can also use a small USB sound card, which is Dereck’s preferred method of connecting the headset to his laptop.

Sadly, the model that Dereck uses has been discontinued, but has been replaced by an equally impressive 2015 version. Also a Game Zero model has been released and it appears to be a worthy replacement to the PC 350 Special Edition. With the PC350 Special Edition 2015 version and the Game Zero models you won’t need to purchase the extra 3.5mm cables, as they both include cables for both PC and Mac. However, for the best sound quality you should still consider purchasing and using a USB sound card.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/sennheiser-pc-350-special-edition-high-performance-gaming-headset-discontinued-by-manufacturer/feed/0TP-LINK Wi-Fi Powerline Extender Starter Kit, Easily Extends Wi-Fi Throughout The Househttps://wifiworkerbees.com/tplink-wifi-extender/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/tplink-wifi-extender/#respondTue, 21 Jun 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=969TP-LINK TL-WPA4220KIT ADVANCED AV500 Wi-Fi Powerline Extender Starter Kit – This is a great option to boost a weak Wi-Fi signal in your house or a small office. While visiting relatives, we encountered weak Wi-Fi, adding a couple of these devices around the house helped a lot. Not surprisingly, many people locate their router next to their available [...]

Not surprisingly, many people locate their router next to their available cable outlet. However, that may not be convenient at all to where they plan to work, or all the places they may want to work from around the house. They may not be able to get a good Wi-Fi signal on other floors or other rooms, so that’s where these extenders come in, and that’s where we implemented them.

It definitely took some configuring, but by using extenders that simply plug into an outlet, the signal is more uniformly distributed throughout the house. These worked so spectacularly well at our relatives’ home that we now plan on having a set of these with us whenever we do an extended stay at an unfamiliar location.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/tplink-wifi-extender/feed/05 Reasons to Set Up A Home Office (Even If You Don’t Plan to WFH Frequently)https://wifiworkerbees.com/5-reasons-set-home-office-even-dont-plan-wfh-frequently/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/5-reasons-set-home-office-even-dont-plan-wfh-frequently/#commentsMon, 20 Jun 2016 09:00:14 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=636Some people might not see the point in setting up a home office if they aren't planning to work from home on a daily basis. But here's five reasons to give it further review: IT Learning and Knowledgeability: Setting up a home office means getting more tech savvy about your IT equipment and how it all works [...]

Some people might not see the point in setting up a home office if they aren’t planning to work from home on a daily basis.

But here’s five reasons to give it further review:

IT Learning and Knowledgeability: Setting up a home office means getting more tech savvy about your IT equipment and how it all works together. When things go wrong at your regular place of work, you’ll understand what went wrong better and explain it more effectively to the IT staff. Also, asking advice and ‘talking shop’ with the IT staff just may win some new work friends and better workplace relationships, not to mention adding to your personal skill set.

Privacy and Concentration at Home When Needed: By assigning work space in your home, every member of the household, including you, knows that space is for work. If someone’s in that space, they need to be able to focus with few, if any, interruptions. This is really important for time management and boundaries. If your workspace is under the stairs, in a corner or in a closet, consider getting a folding partition for a little more privacy while working. When a family member or housemate needs to focus and get something done, there’s a dedicated space to do that (with no TVs or gaming systems in sight.)

Weather Phenomena & their Aftermath: The weather has a mind of its own. Regardless of where you live, there will be a day, if not many days, when it would be best for you to not be another commuter on the roadways. At home, commuting time is time you could be getting to work already, safely, comfortably, not to mention far less frustrated. Plus, it never hurts to have a backup plan on “snow days.”

ISP Failure at the Corporate Office: If the internet is down at the office, you have a backup plan in place at home. You don’t lose a day of work and day full of wasted time based on the workplace’s ISP’s failure. In the event of a community wide outage, or if you have the ability to work from anywhere, you could take your laptop and go where there isn’t an ISP failure. If that isn’t possible, look into using your hotspot for temporary internet access, just be aware that you are being charged for data.

Optimum Personal Life Management: Chances are, you manage a lot of your life via a computer and/or smartphone already: banking, taxes, insurance policies, household accounting, etc. Your life management IT system deserves to be resilient as possible against intrusion and viruses. Its applications should be kept up to date, and the data backed up. Be sure to run antivirus, use a firewall, and use safer email and internet use habits.

If there’s a crisis with your personal life management setup, it will inevitably distract you from everything else you’re trying to accomplish at work, and take up a lot of your time to fix. If these crises are avoidable, it’s worth taking the time to set yourself up for peace of mind.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/5-reasons-set-home-office-even-dont-plan-wfh-frequently/feed/1Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, For When Video Quality Mattershttps://wifiworkerbees.com/logitech-hd-pro-webcam-c920/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/logitech-hd-pro-webcam-c920/#respondThu, 16 Jun 2016 09:00:26 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=816Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 – When we first recorded our Remote Worker IT Toolbox course, we weren't happy with the video we were getting from our built-in computer cameras. So we invested in some better ones. Dereck chose the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. If you need to record footage in 1080p, this one provides [...]

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 – When we first recorded our Remote Worker IT Toolbox course, we weren’t happy with the video we were getting from our built-in computer cameras. So we invested in some better ones. Dereck chose the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920.

If you need to record footage in 1080p, this one provides the most value for the quality. It has a built-in microphone, but we never use that, and prefer to use a separate microphone or headset for recording audio. The other nice thing about this camera is that it comes with a standard threaded camera mount. So if we need to, we can attach this camera to a handheld stabilizer, tripod, or gorilla pod. If you’re using a Mac, the Logitech software is pretty lacking, so consider also purchasing the Webcam Settings app from the Apple App Store. The app corrects many of the deficiencies with the native Logitech app.

Dereck now takes this camera with him so he can record while on the road, or when just when he feels he needs good video for an important conference call.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/logitech-hd-pro-webcam-c920/feed/0Slack, A Wildly Popular Remote Team Communication Toolhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/slack-collaboration/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/slack-collaboration/#respondWed, 15 Jun 2016 09:00:13 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=770Slack – This is a fantastic text chat application for team communications. It's done a lot to mitigate inbox overload, disorganization, and people declaring email bankruptcy. Slack's chats can be organized by topic. Team members can have separate windows/suites for watercooler type conversation versus project and work-related conversation. Files can be shared with a drag and drop. Users [...]

Slack – This is a fantastic text chat application for team communications. It’s done a lot to mitigate inbox overload, disorganization, and people declaring email bankruptcy.

Slack’s chats can be organized by topic. Team members can have separate windows/suites for watercooler type conversation versus project and work-related conversation.

Files can be shared with a drag and drop.

Users can receive direct messages, or DMs, from other users within a team.

All past conversations, messages, notifications, files, and the files’ text content are all searchable.

If a particular discussion is sensitive, it can be marked private.

Slack also has a wide variety of integrations that will allow many other business-related services to post information in a Slack room, so remote workers can have dashboard style access to multiple tools in one place.

With all it can do, Slack has become tremendously popular in its three year existence. And with any popular tool, there are human errors and limitations that become apparent pretty quickly. Basecamp’s Jason Fried pointed out in a March 2016 Medium post that being on a group chat tool all day can easily impede team productivity. All the users feel they can’t get much done on chat all day, but if they aren’t on chat all day, they’re going to miss something really important or miss out on making an important contribution to the discussion. In a December 2015 story, Fast Company pointed out that at times, people can forget it’s work conversation, and to keep good old-fashioned courtesy rules in mind when using a chat interface. Just three examples of user misuse include conversations being too casual, like on Facebook; conversations involving criticisms of a team member that are better handled in private versus an onscreen reprimand while the group watches; and failing to use names in chat, so it’s unclear who is talking to whom in a group setting.

These are just two articles on the topic with over 300,000 search results. That’s quite a lot of observations online about what not to say or do in Slack or other chat tools with your coworkers. They’re worth a read for new and veteran users. Every time someone changes jobs or teams, there’s a whole new normal to adjust to, and that transition can be difficult. Some teams may find that appointing a chat leader for each discussion may keep things on track more effectively; that person can make the call about when to take things offline if needed.

Tip: Announce your arrival and departure in your chats, and always set yourself as Away when you’re not going to be online for awhile. It may take Slack a period of time to determine when you’re away on its own, and it may confuse other people in the chatroom who may be trying to communicate with you.

Tip: Turn off email notifications if you don’t want any potential corporate communications to be sent to you insecurely. This is especially important for certain industries that have privacy requirements.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/slack-collaboration/feed/0Plantronics Blackwire C435, A Quality Compact USB Stereo and Mono Headsethttps://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-blackwire-c435/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-blackwire-c435/#respondTue, 14 Jun 2016 09:00:27 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=813Plantronics Blackwire C435 – This is my preferred USB headset. It's compact, has a good noise reduction microphone, and can be used as either a stereo or as a mono headset. I primarily use this headset when traveling and working on a computer, for example, when I know I need to record something, or be on a video [...]

Plantronics Blackwire C435 – This is my preferred USB headset. It’s compact, has a good noise reduction microphone, and can be used as either a stereo or as a mono headset. I primarily use this headset when traveling and working on a computer, for example, when I know I need to record something, or be on a video chat.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/plantronics-blackwire-c435/feed/0Weather Radio, So You Always Know What’s On the Horizonhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/weather-radio/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/weather-radio/#respondMon, 13 Jun 2016 09:00:17 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1241On September 25, 2015, at 1:00 am, our smartphones alerted us to head to a secure location in the next five minutes. Within five miles of our house, a fierce EF-2 tornado was blowing through. [Just an FYI, tornados are rare in our coastal area, but not impossible.] We waited it out in our downstairs [...]

On September 25, 2015, at 1:00 am, our smartphones alerted us to head to a secure location in the next five minutes. Within five miles of our house, a fierce EF-2 tornado was blowing through. [Just an FYI, tornados are rare in our coastal area, but not impossible.]

We waited it out in our downstairs bath. We had no electricity. Thankfully we had no damage. Trying to find updates and further weather information on our phones or radios proved both fruitless and frustrating. The few updates we discovered were on a Twitter account run by a local weather enthusiast curating news and photos that he found or his followers were sharing with him.

We decided to pick up a weather radio in order to never be in this situation again.

Sangean CL-100 Table-Top Weather Hazard Alert with AM/FM-RBDS Alarm Clock Radio – Initially we picked up this radio and it did an excellent job of updating us on weather conditions in our area. It’s about the size of the average alarm clock radio, so it does require some counter space. You need to enter a code from a NOAA site so the radio only alerts you to warnings and watches in your area, and the types of alerts are configurable. It’s a great radio for home use.

La Crosse 810-805 NOAA/AM/FM Weather RED Alert Super Sport Radio with Flashlight – When we started downsizing our stuff and realizing we wouldn’t be traveling to places with abundant counter space, we sought a weather radio in a smaller, more portable model. With this small unit from La Crosse, we had to pick a radio station zone for receiving weather information to report to us. Anytime we change location in the future, finding the appropriate channel should be pretty straightforward.

A weather radio might not seem like a top of the list item for remote workers and digital nomads. But while we’re traveling in the US, we like having a heads up on conditions that doesn’t depend on AC power.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/weather-radio/feed/0JetDrive SSDs, Increases The Storage Capacity of Macbook Laptopshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/jetdrive-ssds/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/jetdrive-ssds/#respondThu, 09 Jun 2016 09:00:16 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1219We've had our Macbook Air laptops about five years now, and were getting regular warnings our startup disks were getting full. You can only discard so much stuff. We weren't prepared to upgrade the laptops, as they are otherwise working great. So we upgraded our storage space using JetDrives. Transcend 480GB jetDrive 500 SATALLL 6Gb/s [...]

We’ve had our Macbook Air laptops about five years now, and were getting regular warnings our startup disks were getting full. You can only discard so much stuff. We weren’t prepared to upgrade the laptops, as they are otherwise working great. So we upgraded our storage space using JetDrives.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/jetdrive-ssds/feed/0USB Ethernet Adapter, Because Some Hotels Still Don’t Have Good Wi-Fihttps://wifiworkerbees.com/usb-ethernet-adapter/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/usb-ethernet-adapter/#respondTue, 07 Jun 2016 09:00:38 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=794USB Ethernet Adapter – Since many laptop and notebook computers no longer come with built-in Ethernet ports, we use this USB Ethernet adapter for internet connectivity when we're in a hotel or other location where wi-fi isn't a great option, but Ethernet is. We also use it when we just need the speed and reliability that Ethernet provides (like for videoconferencing). In addition [...]

USB Ethernet Adapter – Since many laptop and notebook computers no longer come with built-in Ethernet ports, we use this USB Ethernet adapter for internet connectivity when we’re in a hotel or other location where wi-fi isn’t a great option, but Ethernet is. We also use it when we just need the speed and reliability that Ethernet provides (like for videoconferencing).

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/usb-ethernet-adapter/feed/05 Reasons The Remote Work Option Is A Good Trend For The Worldhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/remote-work-option-good-trend-world/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/remote-work-option-good-trend-world/#respondMon, 06 Jun 2016 09:00:26 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=656Here's five reasons remote work isn't just good for the individual. It could lead to better outcomes for the future of humanity: Less Collisions, Less Deaths by Auto, Less Road Rage: If everyone worked at home, or at a remote location, it would mean far less cars on the road. Less cars on the road would [...]

Here’s five reasons remote work isn’t just good for the individual. It could lead to better outcomes for the future of humanity:

Less Collisions, Less Deaths by Auto, Less Road Rage: If everyone worked at home, or at a remote location, it would mean far less cars on the road. Less cars on the road would mean less collisions & less road rage. Approximately 33,000 deaths happened in the US in 2014. What if we worked toward living in a country where that didn’t happen as much, or at all? Using a car less often. On those rare time we do use a car, we make a point to leave much earlier, drive with singular focus on the road, and drive calmly.

Better Air: Per a 2013 MIT study, air pollution causes 200,000 premature deaths a year. Citing a WHO statistic, Arnold Schwarznegger noted in fall 2015, 7 million people die from air pollution a year. If less people were commuting by car daily, surely this number would also greatly decrease. Smog is also a problem in many large cities, and in growing cities with massive sprawl. Smog would be greatly reduced over time if the number of car commuters were reduced over time.

Higher Employment Potential for Homebound Persons: If companies are open to employees that work from home, this expands their talent pool to around the country, and around the world. This means people who are homebound temporarily, permanently, or have limited mobility, can find work more easily than they ever could before in a car-dependent, commuting world. The marketplace has more participants. A marketplace with more participants means more opportunities to support and nurture those workers with training in continuing education. And then there’s all the services for those remote workers: personal branding, personal marketing, fashion consultation, daycare, caregiving, home cleaning, and home maintenance, so all persons can best market their talents and time to employers. More households are self-sufficient and have more opportunity.

Less Stress/Restored Quality of Life (QoL): People who work remotely are in charge of their time. People who are in charge of their time are more likely get the recommended hours of sleep for adults 26-64. They actually “get away” from their workplace and devices, so they can return to work with recharged brains and bodies. They feel 100% ready to attack the new day’s challenges. People charge their devices every night so that they perform at 100% capacity the next day, why wouldn’t they make a commitment to recharging themselves, too? It leads to better outcomes.They got much needed alone time, family time, and a reminder of who that person is outside of a career.

A World of Better Global Understanding: If people can work from home, that means they are gradually building skills to be able to work from anywhere. If they can work from anywhere, it frees them to see more of the world. This potentially means more people traveling, which hopefully fosters respect and appreciation of other people in other cultures. If people value other lives and other lands because they’ve experienced more of both, this could mean less war, less conflict, less exploitation, and more conservation.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/remote-work-option-good-trend-world/feed/0Anker Astro Mini 3200mAh External Battery & USB Charger, Power In A Lipstick-Sized Casehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-astro-mini-3200mah-external-battery-usb-charger/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-astro-mini-3200mah-external-battery-usb-charger/#respondThu, 02 Jun 2016 09:00:26 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=827Anker Astro Mini 3200mAh External Battery USB Charger – Should you need to apply a charge to a phone or tablet and there isn’t another means charging available to you, this external battery USB charger is a great tool to have, and it doesn't take up much space. We use this primarily as an emergency backup [...]

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-astro-mini-3200mah-external-battery-usb-charger/feed/0BESTEK 150W Car Power Inverter (DC to AC), Allows You Work On Long Roadtripshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/bestek-150w-car-power-inverter-dc-ac/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/bestek-150w-car-power-inverter-dc-ac/#respondWed, 01 Jun 2016 09:00:00 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=825BESTEK 150W Car Power Inverter (DC to AC) – Plug this inverter into a 12V automobile DC outlet and it’ll convert it to 110V AC power. The 150W is enough power to handle a computer and a cellular modem/hotspot. We like this unit because it’s small and easily fits in our travel packs. Although this [...]

We like this unit because it’s small and easily fits in our travel packs. Although this unit is small, it does have a fan that makes some noise.

If the noise is a problem, you might want to consider a fanless inverter, but those tend to be larger in size to allow for heat dissipation. Also, if 150W isn’t enough power for your traveling needs, there are other models that supply more power (300W, 1000W, etc.), but they are not very portable.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/bestek-150w-car-power-inverter-dc-ac/feed/0Sugru Moldable Glue, Great For DIY Power Supply Cable Repairhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/sugru-diy-power-supply-repair/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/sugru-diy-power-supply-repair/#respondTue, 31 May 2016 09:00:21 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=881The power supplies to our MacBook Air and MacBook Pros were starting to fray. At first we used electrical tape to cover the break for a little while. The plastic underneath still continued to disintegrate, though, and the electrical tape became a gummy mess on its own. We found as we peeled off the tape, the wire was starting to [...]

The power supplies to our MacBook Air and MacBook Pros were starting to fray.

At first we used electrical tape to cover the break for a little while. The plastic underneath still continued to disintegrate, though, and the electrical tape became a gummy mess on its own. We found as we peeled off the tape, the wire was starting to fray, creating an electrical hazard that’s utterly useless for powering a device. The cord gripper on one cable was trapped on either side by disintegrated plastic.

Rather than buy new power supplies, we picked up Sugru, a rubbery dough product that comes in sealed packs of 8.

You roll it around in your hands to warm it up. Then it is flattened, cut to size, and tightly wrapped around the cord over the breakage area. Once the Sugru is in position, it is left alone overnight to self-solidify into place. It functions much like a skin graft or a plaster cast. Unlike a cast, it’s permanent. [If you want friends to sign it or give your cord tattoo art, that’s completely up to you.]

Per their website, Sugru is flexible, strong, and electrically insulating, so it will not disintegrate, unlike the original plastic.

Since discovering this amazing stuff, we keep a packet or two in our technology pack when we travel, just in case we need to do some emergency repair while we’re on the road.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/sugru-diy-power-supply-repair/feed/0File Encryption: What Is It and Why Is It Important?https://wifiworkerbees.com/file-encryption-important/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/file-encryption-important/#respondMon, 30 May 2016 09:00:39 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=592Encryption is one component of a successful security strategy. Successful encryption is wholly dependent on robust passwords or pass phrases called "keys." Data encryption's purpose is to make your files readable and decipherable only to you and those you choose to share that information with. To everyone else, it's gibberish. Encryption is an important tool because: [...]

Encryption is one component of a successful security strategy. Successful encryption is wholly dependent on robust passwords or pass phrases called “keys.”

Data encryption’s purpose is to make your files readable and decipherable only to you and those you choose to share that information with. To everyone else, it’s gibberish.

Encryption is an important tool because:

Companies don’t want their financial, R&D, or other internal data leaked to the outside world. Yes, laptops do get lost or stolen, but that doesn’t have to mean losing everything. A stolen or lost laptop should not be the proverbial “key to the candy store.”

Individuals don’t want their financial or other private items made public.

In commerce, transactions need to made quickly, securely, and by authorized parties.

There are many uses of encryption, and you likely use it without knowing that you are.

There are two main types of encryption in use by computers:

Symmetric encryption requires one key (often a password or phrase) to encrypt and decrypt

Asymmetric encryption requires two keys (two passwords or phrases): one encrypts, one decrypts; while one key is public, one is private.

With either one, you need to communicate the keys in a separate medium from the actual encrypted file. You might send someone encrypted files, but you might call them personally with the key. This is a security measure so that just in case an intruder obtains access to the files, they can’t possibly read them without a decryption key.

For asymmetric encryption, private keys should always be kept private and not shared with anyone else. Public keys can be shared.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/file-encryption-important/feed/0The Original Aunt Wanda, Organizes That Mess Of Cables In Your Home Officehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/original-aunt-wanda/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/original-aunt-wanda/#respondThu, 26 May 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=851The Original Aunt Wanda – When setting up your home office, all those cables can get out of hand. Aunt Wanda plastic cylinder wraps are great for keeping cables organized and under control. These slightly flexible cylinders are about 2 inches in diameter, and they quickly and neatly tamed the rats nest of cables behind the desks [...]

The Original Aunt Wanda – When setting up your home office, all those cables can get out of hand. Aunt Wanda plastic cylinder wraps are great for keeping cables organized and under control. These slightly flexible cylinders are about 2 inches in diameter, and they quickly and neatly tamed the rats nest of cables behind the desks and tables in our home office.

While some people will use cardboard tubes from paper product rolls to accomplish similar results, we prefer the Aunt Wanda cylinders because of the extra rigidity it provides, and we just prefer using plastic over paper products when dealing with electronic and electric cables.

The Little Bob is a smaller version of the product with a 1 inch diameter. It is useful for those smaller cables, and these smaller units are also easier to travel with if you need to bundle and protect cables in your travel kit or daypack.

Just be careful when using these products. Although we have yet to damage any cables using either the Aunt Wanda or the Little Bob, some cables aren’t designed to bend to tight circles and you could damage such cables by trying to get through the opening in the cylinders.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/original-aunt-wanda/feed/0Google Drive, The File Sharing Service Included With Your Google Accounthttps://wifiworkerbees.com/google-drive/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/google-drive/#respondWed, 25 May 2016 09:00:18 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=838Google Drive (including Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drawings) – A big boon to remote work has been the introduction of office applications in the cloud. Google Drive is one example. It is is an online file storage and synchronization tool; there are also integrated cloud office applications: documentation, spreadsheets, slideshows, forms, and drawings. Basic use of Google Drive [...]

Google Drive (including Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drawings) – A big boon to remote work has been the introduction of office applications in the cloud. Google Drive is one example. It is is an online file storage and synchronization tool; there are also integrated cloud office applications: documentation, spreadsheets, slideshows, forms, and drawings.

Basic use of Google Drive is free to anyone with a Gmail account. It offers the ability to store and share files across a group of people. To administrate a business group, share a calendar, more security options, and additional storage and sharing functionality, rates are $10 and under per user, per month as part of Google Apps for Work.

Be aware that Google Drive is not zero-knowledge: Google will be able to get access to your files if they chose to.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/google-drive/feed/0SpiderOakONE, A Zero-Knowledge Backup And File Sharing Servicehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/spideroakone-backup/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/spideroakone-backup/#respondTue, 24 May 2016 09:00:32 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=753SpiderOakONE – This is both an online backup and file sync service. We like it because it’s zero-knowledge, which means the SpideroakONE employees will not be able to access your files. Employees also don't store your password, so if you lose it, you nor anyone else can access your files. Files are encrypted before they traverse the internet to [...]

SpiderOakONE – This is both an online backup and file sync service. We like it because it’s zero-knowledge, which means the SpideroakONE employees will not be able to access your files. Employees also don’t store your password, so if you lose it, you nor anyone else can access your files.

Files are encrypted before they traverse the internet to SpiderOakONE’s storage space.

Once files are in your SpiderOakONE space, you may want to share those files. You do this by granting password-protected access to selected people.

SpiderOakONE also has a Hive folder that automatically syncs between computers using the same SpiderOakONE account.

For a low price per month, users get 1 TB of storage. There are cheaper plans for 30GB storage, and more expensive plans for up to 5 TB of storage. SpiderOak also offers backup storage plans for groups and enterprises.

SpiderOak recently introduced more applications to its product suite: the chat application Semaphor, the password manager Encryptyr, and Kloak, a social media application. All three share Spideroak’s trademark security practice of zero-knowledge about its users or their files.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/spideroakone-backup/feed/0Some Pointers on File Sharinghttps://wifiworkerbees.com/pointers-file-sharing/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/pointers-file-sharing/#respondMon, 23 May 2016 09:00:45 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=859File-sharing is a delicate balance: you want teammates and clients to have access, without going through a lot of hurdles. But you want to protect your clients' work and your information from prying eyes. There are multiple brands of file sharing services on the market: Google Drive, OneDrive, SpiderOakONE, Egnyte, Dropbox, Box, ShareFile, and SugarSync. We've been happy with Google Drive and SpiderOakONE. [...]

File-sharing is a delicate balance: you want teammates and clients to have access, without going through a lot of hurdles. But you want to protect your clients’ work and your information from prying eyes.

There are multiple brands of file sharing services on the market: Google Drive, OneDrive, SpiderOakONE, Egnyte, Dropbox, Box, ShareFile, and SugarSync. We’ve been happy with Google Drive and SpiderOakONE. We’ll look at both services in this post for key features like pricing, encryption, security, storage limits offered.

SpiderOak has zero-knowledge of what’s in your files, or what they’re even called

If you lose your key, no one can help get it back

In file-sharing, it’s crucial not to send files and their access information by the same media, for example, in an email. It’s far better to share the links or files via email, and the password or key via a phone call or text message.

Before using a file-sharing service for business items:

Be sure to check with your IT Department about their file encryption standards and preferences

This service is compatible with their file-sharing service preferences

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/pointers-file-sharing/feed/0Wobble Wedges, Bringing Some Stability To Your Working Worldhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/wobble-wedges/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/wobble-wedges/#respondFri, 20 May 2016 09:00:58 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1103How many times do you score the last empty table at the café, only to realize it's unstable? Everything you type is making the table shake. Your coffee is spilling everywhere. You try to make it work, but it's impossible to concentrate. That's where Wobble Wedges come in. These penny-priced pieces of plastic make all the difference. Put them [...]

How many times do you score the last empty table at the café, only to realize it’s unstable? Everything you type is making the table shake. Your coffee is spilling everywhere. You try to make it work, but it’s impossible to concentrate.

That’s where Wobble Wedges come in. These penny-priced pieces of plastic make all the difference. Put them under the troublesome foot, or feet, of a table or chair and the wobble is gone. They’re textured, so they grip and stay put really well.

They’re nearly weightless, and take up very little space. We always put a couple of these in our technology pack when we’re working remotely.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/wobble-wedges/feed/0Silicon Power Rugged A80 2TB, Great For Doing Backups While Travelinghttps://wifiworkerbees.com/silicon-power-rugged-a80-2tb/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/silicon-power-rugged-a80-2tb/#respondThu, 19 May 2016 09:00:25 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=788Silicon Power Rugged A80 2TB – This is a military grade external hard drive that is also waterproof (to an extent). We use it for local Time Machine backups when we travel. To read more about why backups are important, click here. Tip: For increased security, format the hard drive to use an encrypted file [...]

Tip: For increased security, format the hard drive to use an encrypted file system. You’ll want to use a strong password for the encrypted filesystem, but it can be stored in password manager like LastPass.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/silicon-power-rugged-a80-2tb/feed/0Azure Authenticator, Microsoft’s Two-Factor Authentication Apphttps://wifiworkerbees.com/azure-authenticator-microsofts-two-factor-authentication-app/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/azure-authenticator-microsofts-two-factor-authentication-app/#respondWed, 18 May 2016 12:00:26 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=747Azure Authenticator – This technology useful for multi-factor authentication. It displays a generated passcode that changes every 30 seconds or so. The algorithm used to generate the passcodes are tied to the user’s account, so it’s unique for all users for any given time. Until recently, Microsoft Authenticator was used as a two-factor authenticator (2FA) app for Windows phones. Azure was [...]

Azure Authenticator – This technology useful for multi-factor authentication. It displays a generated passcode that changes every 30 seconds or so. The algorithm used to generate the passcodes are tied to the user’s account, so it’s unique for all users for any given time.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/azure-authenticator-microsofts-two-factor-authentication-app/feed/0Google Authenticator, The App That Provides Extra Security For Your Online Accountshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/google-authenticator/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/google-authenticator/#respondTue, 17 May 2016 09:00:16 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=745Google Authenticator – This application is useful for multi-factor authentication. Working in tandem with your smartphone, it displays a generated passcode that changes every few seconds. The algorithm used to generate the passcodes is tied to the user’s account, so it’s unique for all users for any given time. In addition to a username and password, the generated passcode [...]

Google Authenticator– This application is useful for multi-factor authentication. Working in tandem with your smartphone, it displays a generated passcode that changes every few seconds. The algorithm used to generate the passcodes is tied to the user’s account, so it’s unique for all users for any given time. In addition to a username and password, the generated passcode will need to be entered into a site when attempting to access it.

The Google Authenticator app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Tip: To better secure the content of the generated passcodes, have the phone automatically lock, and also require a password or PIN to unlock.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/google-authenticator/feed/0Why Use Multi-Factor Authentication?https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-multifactor-authentication/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-multifactor-authentication/#respondMon, 16 May 2016 09:00:51 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=537How many methods of identification do you have to provide before accessing your information and accounts online? A password? A few security questions? If someone was pretending to be you, what if all they needed was a very simple, very obvious password to get to sites where you've made purchases, shared information, or both? You [...]

How many methods of identification do you have to provide before accessing your information and accounts online? A password? A few security questions?

If someone was pretending to be you, what if all they needed was a very simple, very obvious password to get to sites where you’ve made purchases, shared information, or both?

You don’t want to make it too easy for someone to pretend to be you. This is where the importance of multi-factor authentication comes in.

Multi-factor authentication means employing extra steps to the account access process. For someone pretending to be you, it wastes time and proves frustrating, like a seemingly never-ending obstacle course. The point is to encourage intruders to give up and move on.

In multi-factor authentication, the multiple avenues used to prove your identity are:

Something you know

Something you have

Something you are

Let’s look at each one individually.

Something you know is a password or the answer to a security question, or questions.

Something you have is your mobile phone (cellphone) or smartphone, which is capable of receiving text messages with time-sensitive pass codes, or has applications that perform security and access management tasks. You can also have a code or password generating “key” device.

Something you are is a fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, or voice-recognition. All three of these are biometric identification methods.

Many online services now support two-factor authentication in one form or another. For increased security, enable two-factor authentication when it is available.

Please note, when using a device for two-factor authentication if you lose the device you may not be able to regain access to the online site or service. This can be catastrophic for services like password managers and email accounts. Luckily, most services allow for the creation of backup codes. These are codes that can be used one time to bypass two-factor authentication, which will allow you to gain access to the service and reestablish two-factor authentication with a new device. Review each site for their backup authentication mechanism, and be prepared to use it. Phones get lost and stolen way too frequently.

Tip: Add a password or PIN to unlock your phone. This will help protect any two-factor authentication applications you have on your phone. Someone will need to be able to unlock your phone in order access the two-factor app.

Tip: Don’t display text message contents on phone lock screens. Text messages are often used for two-factor authentication and having them display without security makes it easier for anyone who has access to your phone to gain access to your accounts secured with two-factor. Set up your phone so that it has to be unlocked via a PIN or password in order to view the text message.

Tip: Store backup codes so that they remain safe, yet still accessible to you. If storing them on your computer (or other device), make certain they are encrypted. Use a strong password on the encrypted file, and don’t forget the password. An encrypted zip file using WinZip is one way to secure the files on your computer. If printing out the backup codes, store them in a physically secure way (in locked filing cabinets and safes).

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/why-multifactor-authentication/feed/0Anker 40W 5-Port USB Charger, Charge All Your Devices At Oncehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-40w-5-port-high-speed-usb-charger/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-40w-5-port-high-speed-usb-charger/#respondThu, 12 May 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=829Anker 40W 5-Port High Speed USB Charger – The 40W and 5-Ports make it a breeze to recharge all our gear at night when traveling. By grouping all devices together to charge them, instead of everything charging from random outlets around a hotel room, it prevents accidentally leaving a device behind. The built-in IQ port technology also [...]

Anker 40W 5-Port High Speed USB Charger – The 40W and 5-Ports make it a breeze to recharge all our gear at night when traveling. By grouping all devices together to charge them, instead of everything charging from random outlets around a hotel room, it prevents accidentally leaving a device behind.

The built-in IQ port technology also means we can plug whatever USB device we want into any port and the charger will figure out how best to charge it.

About the size of a deck of cards, this charger is easy to pack for travel and is at home on the desk of any office.

Tip: Store the USB cables with the charger when packing. 6-inch USB cables don’t take up much space, and the power cord on the charger should be long enough to get the charger to a flat surface such as table or desktop, making the need for longer cables unnecessary. There are also plenty of small adapters available to convert from micro USB to other plug types, should you need them.

Tip: If 6-inch USB cables aren’t enough for you, we have found that retractable cables are also compact and travel well.

Tip: Need more USB ports? There are also 60W, 6-port and 10-port chargers now available from the same manufacturer.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/anker-40w-5-port-high-speed-usb-charger/feed/0LastPass, Makes Strong Password Management Easyhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/lastpass-password-manager/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/lastpass-password-manager/#respondWed, 11 May 2016 09:00:33 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=746LastPass – is a password manager and a godsend. It makes generating and managing strong passwords a breeze. On desktops, it’s a browser extension that recognizes the website you are on and fills in your username and password for you. On mobile devices, it’s a standalone application that lets you copy strong passwords to a clipboard and [...]

]]>LastPass – is a password manager and a godsend. It makes generating and managing strong passwords a breeze.

On desktops, it’s a browser extension that recognizes the website you are on and fills in your username and password for you.

On mobile devices, it’s a standalone application that lets you copy strong passwords to a clipboard and paste them in on the website or mobile app. That way you don’t need to remember your password for every site your visit.

LastPass can also generate strong passwords for you up to 100 characters in length. Not every website and application will support passwords that long, but many sites will allow you create very long passwords. The longer the password, the harder it will be for hackers to compromise.

LastPass does store your passwords on their server though. Luckily, they are a zero-knowledge service provider that takes security and privacy seriously. However, there is always a risk that the LastPass servers could become compromised in some way, and your password information becomes exposed, but it seems unlikely.

LastPass has a lot of configuration and security options, too many for us to go over in this short article. So please review all the options and make appropriate changes to enhance the default security of the application.

Tip: It’s imperative you use a strong master password for LastPass to keep all your other passwords safe. The master password is used to encrypt your LastPass password vault, so do not forget that password. Do not use your master password on any other site. Be sure to change it periodically.

Tip: LastPass offers two-factor authentication to access your password vault. Go ahead and set that up for an extra layer of security.

Tip: Set the preferences so that you are automatically logged out of LastPass when the browser is closed or you have been idle for a period of time. This helps increase your security in case you wander away from your computer and accidentally leave it unlocked.

Tip: LastPass can be configured to not automatically fill in the username and password on websites. This would help protect your passwords should your computer or web browser be compromised in some manner.

Tip: Take extra precautions when using LastPass on mobile devices, as mobile devices have a tendency to get lost or stolen. You’ll want to use as much security as possible on your mobile device and on the LastPass app and password vault to keep your passwords as secure as possible.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/lastpass-password-manager/feed/0Backblaze, Affordable Zero-Knowledge Capable Cloud Backuphttps://wifiworkerbees.com/backblaze-cloud-backup/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/backblaze-cloud-backup/#respondTue, 10 May 2016 09:00:33 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=752Backblaze – This is the service we use for our cloud backups. The two main things we like about Backblaze are that it's reasonably priced, and that it can be configured for zero-knowledge. Zero-knowledge means they will know nothing about the information that we are backing up. You can also add on an option to your account where they will overnight you a [...]

Backblaze – This is the service we use for our cloud backups. The two main things we like about Backblaze are that it’s reasonably priced, and that it can be configured for zero-knowledge. Zero-knowledge means they will know nothing about the information that we are backing up. You can also add on an option to your account where they will overnight you a flash or hard drive with your backed up data.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/backblaze-cloud-backup/feed/0What is Zero-Knowledge, Why Is It Important?https://wifiworkerbees.com/zero-knowledge/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/zero-knowledge/#respondMon, 09 May 2016 09:00:45 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=985Zero-knowledge means software companies and service providers don't have access to the contents of your data. It's a feature we look for among service providers when possible. It helps us assure our clients that their data is being kept safe. Typically for a zero-knowledge service, data is encrypted locally on computers before being transmitted and stored [...]

Zero-knowledge means software companies and service providers don’t have access to the contents of your data. It’s a feature we look for among service providers when possible. It helps us assure our clients that their data is being kept safe.

Typically for a zero-knowledge service, data is encrypted locally on computers before being transmitted and stored on remote servers. And the encryption technology used is one where the service provider doesn’t have a “key” or “password” for, so they cannot decrypt the data they are storing or transferring. To anyone who might somehow gain access your data on one of the remote servers, the data would appear to be a massive indecipherable mess.

For a password manager that is zero-knowledge, this means the makers of the password manager can’t access any of the stored passwords on their servers. But it also means they cannot retrieve your master password if you lose it. So if you lose the master password that was used to encrypt the data, you too will not be able to access the passwords stored by the password manager.

For a backup service, this means they won’t be able to know the contents of the data that was backed up from your computer. And you’ll need the master password or key to restore the data from the backup. If you don’t remember the master password, you’ll not be able to restore the data either.

For a zero-knowledge social media or chat services, this typically means you will need to pay for the service as the service cannot access your data to deliver targeted advertisements, nor would they be able share your data to sell it to other parties to cover operating costs. Zero-knowledge social media and chat applications are hard to find, but a few companies like SpiderOak and WhatsApp are working towards those capabilities.

Sometimes the term end-to-end encryption is used indicate the service is zero-knowledge. End-to-end means the communication between one party and the other is encrypted the entire path from source to destination. However, not all end-to-end services are zero-knowledge, because it is possible that the service provider has the key to encryption being used and could therefore access your data. So it may be necessary to ask the provider if they are also zero-knowledge in addition to being end-to-end.

Although zero-knowledge service providers are rare, there are more companies offering this capability and more are looking into offering it as an option. So keep an eye on your favorite services to see if they are going to provide zero-knowledge options available to their users.

Tip: If the service provides the option to do so, also use two-factor authentication to provide an extra layer of security when accessing the data.

Tip: If you’re worried about forgetting your master passwords for zero-knowledge services, you may need to print it out or write it down. If you do this, make certain you provide adequate physical security for this information. Use locked cabinets or a safe to hold the information.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/zero-knowledge/feed/0Hug A Plug, Makes Power Outlets Accessiblehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/hug-a-plug/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/hug-a-plug/#respondThu, 05 May 2016 09:15:33 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1170Hug A Plug – This adapter lets you turn one wall outlet socket into two, and plug into difficult-to-reach outlets behind furniture and appliances. If you are working on a countertop, you'll notice you get more space to work when appliances can be placed further back against the wall. Since switching to the Hug [...]

Hug A Plug – This adapter lets you turn one wall outlet socket into two, and plug into difficult-to-reach outlets behind furniture and appliances. If you are working on a countertop, you’ll notice you get more space to work when appliances can be placed further back against the wall.

Since switching to the Hug A Plug, we no longer feel the need to bring along an multi-outlet extension cord when we travel and work outside of our home.

As you might have guessed, this Hug a Plug is intended for devices that use US style two or three prong plugs. If you will be spending a long time in another country or countries soon, check out the Universal Standards site in advance and plan accordingly.

Tip: Bring a couple of these along with you to a coffee shop, airport lounge, or other non-traditional shared workspace, and you’ll make yourself a few friends as you’ll not have to fight over the limited available electrical outlets.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/hug-a-plug/feed/0WinZip, The Way To Send Files Securely Over Emailhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/winzip-compression/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/winzip-compression/#respondWed, 04 May 2016 09:00:05 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=750WinZip is a registered trademark of WinZip International LLC. All rights reserved WinZip – This is great for compressing and encrypting files prior to storage on unencrypted external storage devices, or prior to sending the files over insecure network communications (email, sharing sites, unencrypted online drives, etc.) Despite the name being WinZip, there are versions of the software for [...]

WinZip is a registered trademark of WinZip International LLC. All rights reserved

WinZip – This is great for compressing and encrypting files prior to storage on unencrypted external storage devices, or prior to sending the files over insecure network communications (email, sharing sites, unencrypted online drives, etc.)

Despite the name being WinZip, there are versions of the software for both Windows and Macintosh computers, as well as versions for the Android and IOS devices too.

Tip: For maximum security, go to preferences and set the Encryption Method to AES 256-bit. You’ll need to set the password on the Zip archive in order for the files to be encrypted in addition to being compressed. Do not share the Zip file password in the same communication as you are sharing the Zip file itself.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/winzip-compression/feed/0CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 900W Battery Backup – Perfect For The Home Officehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/cyberpower-cp1500avrlcd-900w-battery-backup/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/cyberpower-cp1500avrlcd-900w-battery-backup/#respondTue, 03 May 2016 09:00:23 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=824CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 900W Battery Backup – In the event of a power outage, you would like to keep working, wouldn't you? The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 900W battery backup provides some juice when the power goes out at the home. If you can get away with just having a router and modem on a battery backup, you [...]

The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 900W battery backup provides some juice when the power goes out at the home. If you can get away with just having a router and modem on a battery backup, you could potentially work for a quite a few hours during an outage with this backup.

Tip: it’s worth having your power company’s outage number listed in your cellphone’s contacts before you lose power, so you don’t have to research the number to call.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/cyberpower-cp1500avrlcd-900w-battery-backup/feed/0Remote Work Field Report: Eastern Kentucky – Why Does The Wi-Fi Stop When The Phone Rings?https://wifiworkerbees.com/field-report-eastern-ky/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/field-report-eastern-ky/#respondMon, 02 May 2016 09:00:03 +0000https://wifiworkerbees.com/?p=1210Recently we spent two weeks in Eastern Kentucky house and dog sitting for a family while they were on vacation. We thought it might be good to share with you some of the things that went well and those that didn't while we were on the trip. The Tech Stuff INTERNET: Much of Eastern Kentucky is [...]

]]>Recently we spent two weeks in Eastern Kentucky house and dog sitting for a family while they were on vacation. We thought it might be good to share with you some of the things that went well and those that didn’t while we were on the trip.

The Tech Stuff

INTERNET: Much of Eastern Kentucky is fairly rural, but this family had their home near Ashland, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. So we weren’t very rural, and the family did have DSL high speed internet service that they made available to us through their Wi-Fi.

First of all, their Wi-Fi was secured with a password, so kudos to them for doing that, although the risk of Wi-Fi snooping was pretty light given their home location and proximity of neighbors. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

One quirk we noticed was that every time the landline phone rang, the Wi-Fi stopped working for a few minutes. We believe that was due to their extension cordless phones using the same frequencies as their Wi-Fi router. There’s not much we could do about that (except disconnect their extension phones, I suppose). This something we haven’t run into before, so be aware of this should it happen to you while in an unfamiliar place. Always be wired in when you can be.

WI-FI EXTENDERS: Because of the layout of the home and the location of their Wi-Fi router, we did end up using a few Wi-Fi extenders to get the signal throughout their home so that we both could work from different spots in the house and also keep an eye on the dog while working. We plan to do a whole writeup on Wi-Fi extenders in the future, we find them incredibly useful. For this trip we used both a wireless router (used as a repeater) and two powerline Wi-Fi extenders. The extenders worked great and are worth looking into if you have extended stays at locations.

VPN: While we’re on the subject of Wi-Fi and unfamiliar places, we always use a VPN service when using a strange Wi-Fi. We actually have two VPN services, the first is Cloak and the second is Private Internet Access. We’ll do a full write up on VPNs in the future with more information, but in short they allow you secure the internet communication from your devices through potentially insecure networks.

We use the Cloak VPN service on our Apple Mac notebooks and iPad tablets. The great thing about Cloak is that it can be configured to automatically secure your internet traffic while not on a trusted network. However, I did seem to notice that there might have been brief moments when some traffic snuck through normal Wi-Fi as the Wi-Fi was re-establishing a connection after an interruption. I intend to contact Cloak about this to find out if there is a way that traffic could get through before their application secures the Wi-Fi, but until then, I plan to have no apps running until the Cloak VPN service is established (which really defeats the main purpose of why we purchased Cloak to use on our laptops and tablets). Otherwise, the Cloak service was rock solid for the duration of our stay.

We used the Private Internet Access VPN on our Android phones. It is also a backup VPN service for our laptops and tablets should Cloak not be available. We were using the Private Internet Access app to secure the communications. A few times after rebooting my phone, the app failed to run at startup for some reason. I switched over to the OpenVPN Connect app and didn’t have the problem again. Since returning home, Private Internet Access has updated their Android app, so I will test this again on our next trip. Other than the issues with the app, the service worked flawlessly for us.

PROJECT FI: In the area where we were located, we were only able to get 3G on our Project Fi phone. As indicated on their website, this meant that browsing would work fine, but downloads and videos would be slower. It’s a good idea to investigate your coverage before you go somewhere, much like you would check the weather report before you go. That way you’re prepared and have a backup plan in advance should your usual technology tools fail you. We didn’t need to use the Project Fi hotspot service while we were at the home, but it was nice to know it was available to us should we have needed it.

CONSUMER CELLULAR: For our personal phones, Consumer Cellular worked fine… mostly. For some reason SMS image messages would not automatically come through, and other text messages came in out of order. Rebooting the phones fixed this, and we got in the habit of rebooting the phones at least once a day. The rebooting of the phones led to the discovery that the Private Internet Access app wasn’t always restarting on reboot.

BLUETOOTH HEADSET: I was trying out a new Bluetooth headset on this trip. It was a LG Tone Pro. I like the idea of this headset with stereo earbuds and microphone on the collar. Sadly, the headset performed badly at home and on the road. Too often the audio would briefly cut out (mainly while playing music) and the parties on the other end of the conversation said that it sounded like I had them on speakerphone when I spoke. Not cool. So I returned the headset. My quest for an acceptable Bluetooth headset with stereo earbuds and decent mic continues. Until then I’ll stick with the wired headsets for business communication.

AMAZON ECHO: We brought our Echo to try it out as potential device we would take with on the road. In general we love it and use it almost daily. We configured the Echo to use the Wi-Fi network at the home and that worked for a few days. Then at some point during the stay, the Echo was unable to connect to the wireless network for some reason. No idea why. It was working great and then just stopped. Nothing I could do seemed to be able to get it to connect again to the Wi-Fi. I ended up reconfiguring one of our wireless routers to use a different Wi-Fi identifier than the previous network, and the Echo stayed connected from that moment on.

One other nit about the Echo, is that I use it to listen to podcasts that are hosted on TuneIn. Because the Wi-Fi in this home became disrupted when phone rang, the Echo would often lose its place in the podcast and stop playing (or begin playing the previous weeks podcast when Wi-Fi became operational again). I was unable to discover a way to tell the Echo to just forward to a particular spot in the podcast. Any attempt caused it to jump to a different podcast in the series. This became such a problem that I switched to using the phone to stream the podcast and used a headset to listen.

POWER: We had no issues with power while we were there. No outages. I did use a battery backup a few times to recharge my phone during the day, since it was getting more of a workout than normal streaming podcasts and music all day. I then recharged the battery backup and the phone at night using the Anker charger.

LAPTOPS: Neither of us had any real issues with our Macbook Air laptops while on the journey. They did just fine, pretty much like they always do.

The Non-Tech Stuff

BEER: So Eastern Kentucky isn’t a hotbed of craft beer. It is a decent place to be for bourbon though. We did find a beverage center that had a decent supply of craft beers from Kentucky and Ohio. We enjoyed several different varieties. The place even had a growler station with beers from Cincinnati, but we didn’t bring any empties nor did we feel like purchasing a couple of growlers just for a few days. We are looking into some travel growlers we might bring along with us in the future.

FOOD: Ashland, Kentucky, doesn’t have too many restaurants that aren’t chains. That being said, the chains are good chains and the local restaurants we tried were good. Plus there are also a number of other towns nearby in West Virginia and Ohio that offer a variety of dining options. You won’t starve while there.

LUGGAGE: I purchased a set of eBags Packing Cubes prior to this trip. Seriously, I’m wondering why I waited so long before purchasing. I managed to organize my suitcase in no time and they made packing and unpacking a snap. The cubes went directly from my suitcase and into an available drawer in the bedroom where we stayed. I just pulled clothes from the cubes as I needed them, and after laundry, I repacked the clothes back into the cubes. When it was time to leave, it was simply a matter of adding the cubes back into the suitcase.

THE DOG: She was amazing! Such a sweetheart and great fun to be around. She was absolutely no trouble, and probably could have been left alone for hours on end, as she is definitely able to entertain herself. She just likes being around people, and I didn’t mind at all taking a break from working every now and then for a quick play date.

Things We Would Change

There is one big thing I want to change. Since I’m unable to find a travel router that supports being a VPN client, I want to flash a travel router with the OpenWRT firmware and see if it is possible to configure the new router software to establish the VPN and block network traffic when the VPN is not established. If it works, then from here on out we will use the router instead of configuring out computers to attach various Wi-Fi networks. We will configure the router to do so, and our computers will never to be reconfigured again. Yay!

Conclusion

In conclusion, we were generally happy with how our technology performed while on the trip. There is room for improvement with the various apps we use, but we feel we’re still better off with them than without.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/field-report-eastern-ky/feed/0ShieldsUP! Firewall Testinghttps://wifiworkerbees.com/shieldsup-grc/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/shieldsup-grc/#respondWed, 27 Apr 2016 09:15:51 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=749ShieldsUP! – This is a nifty site by Gibson Research Corporation for testing the strength of your firewall. After clicking Proceed, you'll want to check out not just the UPnP exposure test, but the Common Ports and All Service Ports tests. Click the following link to read more about the importance of using a firewall. If you are [...]

ShieldsUP! – This is a nifty site by Gibson Research Corporation for testing the strength of your firewall. After clicking Proceed, you’ll want to check out not just the UPnP exposure test, but the Common Ports and All Service Ports tests.

Click the following link to read more about the importance of using a firewall.

If you are interested in computer security, be certain to check out Shields Up! creator Steve Gibson’s weekly online show.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/shieldsup-grc/feed/0Antivirus: What It Does, and Why To Run It Regularlyhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/antivirus-regularly/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/antivirus-regularly/#respondWed, 27 Apr 2016 09:00:52 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=864Antivirus is software that scans your Windows or Mac machine for viruses, trojans, malware and other malicious content. These malicious programs can steal data, slow down your machine's performance, or render your machine inoperable. Viruses and malware can come from just about anywhere. According to McAfee's State of Malware 2013, they catalog about 100,000 new indications malware daily, this breaks [...]

Antivirus is software that scans your Windows or Mac machine for viruses, trojans, malware and other malicious content. These malicious programs can steal data, slow down your machine’s performance, or render your machine inoperable. Viruses and malware can come from just about anywhere. According to McAfee’s State of Malware 2013, they catalog about 100,000 new indications malware daily, this breaks down to 69 threats/minute.

Environments like public Wi-Fi, or other locations where a lot of users tap into, are ripe with opportunity for getting infected with malware.

Popular antivirus software includes: ClamXav, AVG, Avast, McAfee, Norton, Kapersky, and Bitdefender. We use Mac computers and like ClamXav. It scans your machine one drive at a time, and quarantines suspicious items. Windows users have many antivirus options available to them.

Antivirus should always be running. If that’s not possible, run it daily. It should scan all your files and all your drives. New viruses evolve on a daily basis, this is why antivirus needs to be run frequently. It’s also important to upgrade your antivirus when prompted.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/antivirus-regularly/feed/0Time Machine, Apple’s Backup Featurehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/time-machine/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/time-machine/#respondMon, 25 Apr 2016 09:15:00 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=751Time Machine – This is our primary local backup tool (we also use cloud backups). We perform several backups throughout the day to an encrypted external USB hard drive. Because Time Machine remembers versions of files, you can search out the archives for the specific version you may need. To read more about why backups are important, [...]

Time Machine– This is our primary local backup tool (we also use cloud backups). We perform several backups throughout the day to an encrypted external USB hard drive. Because Time Machine remembers versions of files, you can search out the archives for the specific version you may need.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/time-machine/feed/0What are Firewalls, Why Are They Used?https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-firewalls-why-are-they-used/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-firewalls-why-are-they-used/#respondMon, 25 Apr 2016 09:00:13 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=863Firewalls are designed to prevent undesirable inbound traffic from gaining entry to your devices, and stop undesirable outbound traffic from leaving your network. Firewalls can be hardware or software, and each type plays different roles. A hardware firewall is used for your home network. It should be a device you own, that you plug directly into [...]

Firewalls are designed to prevent undesirable inbound traffic from gaining entry to your devices, and stop undesirable outbound traffic from leaving your network.

Firewalls can be hardware or software, and each type plays different roles.

A hardware firewall is used for your home network. It should be a device you own, that you plug directly into your modem. Most of the time your home router or gateway will include a firewall. If you have a Wi-Fi access point, it should be part of the firewall, or behind it. A hardware firewall should be configured to block all incoming traffic from the internet.

Your internet provider may have these devices for rent, but be aware that renting means the access control is out of your hands. Be aware that owning the device means there are firmware upgrades that will need to be performed; you will want to stay up to date on those for security reasons.

To test if all inbound traffic is being blocked by your firewall, use the ShieldsUP! tool provided by Gibson Research Corporation.

A software firewall is built into the operating systems of Windows and Mac machines. If a program is trying to accept incoming connections, the software firewall will alert you and ask if this is ok? It’s a great tool. To confirm it’s turned on, to go into your System Preferences or Settings menu.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/what-are-firewalls-why-are-they-used/feed/0Do You Have a ‘Backups’ Plan When Working Remotely?https://wifiworkerbees.com/backups-plan-working-remotely/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/backups-plan-working-remotely/#respondFri, 22 Apr 2016 09:15:59 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=868Do you have a 'backups' plan when working remotely? It's a loaded question. Backups are crucial for remote work so you always have the hardware, the electricity, and the data to do your job from anywhere. In the event of a crisis, you know exactly where your data is, how to access it, and [...]

Do you have a ‘backups’ plan when working remotely? It’s a loaded question.

Backups are crucial for remote work so you always have the hardware, the electricity, and the data to do your job from anywhere. In the event of a crisis, you know exactly where your data is, how to access it, and get back to work.

In this post, we’re discussing two kinds of backups: power and data.

Power backup devices, like the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 900W Battery Backup, are uninterruptible power supplies. They provide some juice for our computers, routers, and modems when the power goes out at the house. In addition, battery backups do a better job handling drops in voltage, and long term outages like blackouts and brownouts, compared to your everyday power strip.

If you can get away with just having a router and modem on a battery backup, you could potentially work for many hours during an outage. You don’t want to connect your printers or fax machines to a battery backup. If you need to print a document, create a PDF and set a reminder to run it off when the power is back on, if needed.

Battery backups come in a variety of sizes and capacities. In order to determine the best one for you, you need to use a wattmeter to determine your device’s (or devices’) consumption. Set the wattmeter to record maximum wattage and leave it connected for at least a day (more days would be better). Maximum wattage should give you the worst case scenario for how much power your devices consume. Just be aware that a battery backup may be listed at a certain wattage, but rarely do they really support that much wattage for sustained periods (if at all). So for extra wiggle room, take the maximum wattage recorded by your wattmeter and multiply it by 1.5. Use this new number as your theoretical maximum wattage value.

Using the theoretical maximum wattage value, review the runtime graphs and tables from the battery backup manufacturers to determine which backup will provide you enough juice to get you through an estimated power outage. The graphs and tables should be on their websites. This is fairly tedious, but necessary step.

What about data backups?

Data backups prevent you from losing all your work and having to start from scratch. There are cloud backups and local backups. For the most resiliency, you want to consider implementing both.

Cloud backups can be performed daily via a software program. Examples include Backblaze, Crashplan, Carbonite, SpiderOak. We use Backblaze and Spideroak because they can be configured to as “zero knowledge” services. This means that the information is encrypted in such a way that the service provider will not have access to any of our corporate data, nor would anyone else should the service provider’s cloud become compromised.

In seeking the best cloud backup service for you, you will want to look for how each service handles encryption, size limitations, whether or not they throttle bandwidth, and if they back up the entire disk or just certain directories. Also, how do they supply your data to you once you’ve procured a new machine to work with: a flash drive or a hard drive? How quickly can they get that to you? How much does all this cost?

Local backups are made to external hard drives or a portable drive like the Silicon Power one shown above. When using a portable drive, ideally it should be encrypted so it can’t be read if it is misplaced or stolen. It should also be shockproof and waterproof, because life happens, especially when you’re traveling.

Local backup software options include: Time Machine, Disk Utility, Crashplan, Acronis True Image, and Acronis Backup. Some local backup software will backup files and folders individually, while others just back up an image of the whole drive. If it’s the latter, you will not be able to retrieve files or folders individually.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/backups-plan-working-remotely/feed/0iPhone Upgrade Program: Just the Ticket for Digital Nomadshttps://wifiworkerbees.com/iphone-upgrade-program-just-ticket-digital-nomads/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/iphone-upgrade-program-just-ticket-digital-nomads/#respondFri, 22 Apr 2016 09:00:18 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=877Apple now offers an iPhone Upgrade Program with AppleCare+, which may be the perfect travel companion for digital nomads. By enrolling in the iPhone Upgrade Program, customers can get a new phone after 12 payments, instead of waiting for a contract to end with traditional carriers. And the iPhone Upgrade Program delivers conveniences in five key ways: You're not tied [...]

By enrolling in the iPhone Upgrade Program, customers can get a new phone after 12 payments, instead of waiting for a contract to end with traditional carriers. And the iPhone Upgrade Program delivers conveniences in five key ways:

You’re not tied to a carrier plan: Buyers get an unlocked phone, so they pick their carrier: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile. Apple says the unlocked phone so it may be possible to move service to any carrier that supports the iPhone. If so, that should open up carrier options to include MVNOs, Mobile Virtual Network Operators, and many carriers that offer no-contract plans: Consumer Cellular, Net10, Straight Talk, etc. If you use an MVNO as your carrier, you check with Apple and your carrier about this program to make certain there aren’t any issues.

iPhones support more Long Term Evolution (LTE) bands than ever before: This means getting at-home broadband speeds on your mobile devices, from just about anywhere in the US and around the world. When you are uploading, downloading, streaming content, or video conferencing, reliable speed is everything.

You can switch out SIM cards easily: Apple iPhones use Global Systems Mobile Communications, which is what most of the world’s cellphones use. This means they have a SIM card which can be exchanged out in other countries if needed.

You have very little hardware and accessories to carry around: If you need it to be, your iPhone is a wallet, camera, communications device, work device, entertainment device, and ride-fetching device.

The Unthinkable: The iPhone Upgrade Program comes with AppleCare+, providing the customer with repair and replacement options.

Droppage, Screen Breakage, Liquid Damage: Should you lose the phone or it breaks, Apple will replace it the first two instances.

[Traditional carriers offered insurance, but with high deductibles, so replacement was costly.] Theft isn’t mentioned on the Apple website, so it is worth asking about.

Repair and Replacement Support: The iPhone, its battery, ear pods, accessories, connecting to Wi-Fi, and using iOS, iCloud, and Apple-made apps all come with tech support.

The main drawback to this program is that you will be making payments for each phone for two years, and you may be expected to trade in your old phone when upgrading.

https://wifiworkerbees.com/iphone-upgrade-program-just-ticket-digital-nomads/feed/0Project Fi, Google’s Cellular Phone and Hotspot Servicehttps://wifiworkerbees.com/project-fi/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/project-fi/#respondThu, 21 Apr 2016 13:15:25 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=880We picked up a Nexus 6 as part of Project Fi, Google's new smartphone hotspot plan. It's a been a great source for reliable Wi-Fi when we're traveling, or when we lose connectivity at home. The plan starts at just $20 a month, and $10 more per each 1 Gb of Data. Our account is credited for data we don't use at [...]

We picked up a Nexus 6 as part of Project Fi, Google’s new smartphone hotspot plan. It’s a been a great source for reliable Wi-Fi when we’re traveling, or when we lose connectivity at home.

The plan starts at just $20 a month, and $10 more per each 1 Gb of Data. Our account is credited for data we don’t use at a rate of a penny per megabyte (Mb). Domestic talk or texting is unlimited. The Nexus 6 is designed to function across all domestic (US) networks. International travelers would appreciate that international texting is unlimited, international calls are pretty cheap, and Project Fi has coverage in 120+ countries. [For access to countries outside those 120, users will need to pick up a local SIM card.]

The Nexus 6 can function as a hotspot for multiple devices, aka Wi-Fi tethering. This is the functionality we were most excited about. When we’re working from home and there’s an outage, or we’re staying somewhere with spotty Wi-Fi, our Project Fi phone is a reliable Wi-Fi hotspot to have on hand. We use a VPN service in tandem with our hotspot, and we’re back to work in minutes.

So with all these advantages, are there any drawbacks to Project Fi?

Yes. It uses Google Voice. If you have a pre-existing Google Voice number tied to your Google account, you will have to convert it to a Project Fi number, or risk losing the number altogether. Either way, that number is changing and potentially losing some functionality.

Many people use a Google Voice number to route their calls around to multiple devices and locations. Those persons will lose the routing functionality if he/she converts his/her Google Voice number to a Project Fi number. Project Fi will not route calls to other devices.

If you like your Google Voice number’s functionality as is, you will need to re-assign the Google voice number to another Google account before signing up for Project Fi, or, create a whole new Google account and request a new Google number that you won’t care about converting to Project Fi because there’s nothing and no one attached to that number yet.

Even with those limitations, we find the Nexus 6 and Project Fi to be an important part of our remote work technology toolbox.

The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P phones also work with Project Fi. There’s no contract and the phone is unlocked. Just make certain that you purchase the phone from a reputable retailer, like Amazon or Google.

Tip: To verify that the product you are purchasing from Amazon is being sold by Amazon and not a third party, look for the phrase “ships from and sold by Amazon.com” near the price for the product.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/project-fi/feed/0Hotspots, Another Option for Safer, BYO Wi-Fi in a Pinchhttps://wifiworkerbees.com/hotspots-byo-wi-fi/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/hotspots-byo-wi-fi/#respondThu, 21 Apr 2016 13:00:40 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=872If your Wi-Fi or travel router wasn't working, what would you do to access the Internet? What if you were staying at a friend's house, only to discover the Wi-Fi isn't reliable for working? Or, how about planning to work from home, only to learn your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has an outage for most of the day? Your solution [...]

If your Wi-Fi or travel router wasn’t working, what would you do to access the Internet?

What if you were staying at a friend’s house, only to discover the Wi-Fi isn’t reliable for working?

Or, how about planning to work from home, only to learn your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has an outage for most of the day?

Your solution may be in your pocket.

Your smartphone, cellphone, or a dedicated device can act as a hotspot if you really need it. Hotspots are great as backup internet sources; you might want to consider getting two when traveling.

A cellphone hotspot is an add-on service available through your provider. Using it may mean you can’t use your phone for calls or other functionality, and using the cellphone as a hotspot can drain its battery quickly. If the power is out, you can’t recharge that phone. Since you are paying for data, you will want to be prudent with your usage.

A dedicated hotspot can be a standalone device, or connect to another device via USB. It has its own battery. You can get a contract plan to support it, or use a pay as you go plan. It can connect to a mobile router, and you may be able to use it on more than one network.

]]>https://wifiworkerbees.com/hotspots-byo-wi-fi/feed/0Greetings and Salutations!https://wifiworkerbees.com/greetings/
https://wifiworkerbees.com/greetings/#respondSun, 06 Mar 2016 10:00:31 +0000http://wifiworkerbee.wpengine.com/?p=1147Welcome to the new Wifi Worker Bees blog. We have a lot of new projects coming your way, and we're very excited to share them. Who is Wifi Worker Bees? Two seasoned professionals: Dereck is an information technology professional with an extensive background in software development and product management, and Kathleen is a technical and feature [...]

]]>Welcome to the new Wifi Worker Bees blog. We have a lot of new projects coming your way, and we’re very excited to share them.

Who is Wifi Worker Bees? Two seasoned professionals: Dereck is an information technology professional with an extensive background in software development and product management, and Kathleen is a technical and feature writer.

The focus of the new Wifi Worker Bees blog is Remote Work Technology and Techniques (TNT.) The technology is specific hardware and software that makes remote work possible. The techniques are the role a technology plays, or why a specific technology is important to remote workers. Techniques also covers technology category comparisons, new features, new services tied to technologies, and new technologies on the horizon that could be game-changers.

After our first week, expect a new post each Monday and Wednesday morning. If there’s a technology or technique you really love for working remotely, please share it with us via our “Contact” menu.

If you have thoughts on a blogpost, please share your comments. We only ask that you keep it courteous, and keep it focused on the themes of remote work.

If you sign up for our newsletter, you will be the first to know about what’s next. An e-book, webinars, and a podcast are just some of what’s coming down the road.